Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed on Wednesday the start of the UN’s operational plan to salvage the FSO Safer oil tanker and pump out approximately 1.14 million barrels of crude oil.

The Kingdom also welcomed through a Foreign Ministry statement the success of UN and international efforts over the past years which culminated in the start of the unloading process and averting an environmental disaster that threatens maritime security and the global economy in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia commended UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s efforts and the organization’s team who worked to harness all endeavors to end the decaying ship issue.

It also praised the financial support provided by donor countries to end the Safer crisis, as the Kingdom was one of the first countries to offer financial grants through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

The ministry expressed the Kingdom’s thanks to the command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen for its support to facilitate the arrival of the replacement vessel to start the unloading process.

It also affirmed its continued efforts to work with the United Nations and the Yemeni government to end issues related to the stricken vessel.