Drone strikes on civilian tankers in the Black Sea prompt CPC to halt operations, raising alarms in international shipping and energy sectors.
Drone Strikes on Civilian Tankers in the Black Sea: CPC Halts Operations
Drone attacks targeting civilian oil transportation in the Black Sea have raised concerns in the international maritime and energy sectors. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) announced that it has temporarily halted loading operations following the targeting of three tankers at its offshore terminal.
The company emphasized that the attacked terminal is not only a regional facility but also an international commercial energy infrastructure with economic interests from the United States and many other countries. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy of Kazakhstan condemned the attacks in strong terms.
First Attack Occurred During Loading
The first attack took place on July 19, targeting two tankers loading at the CPC offshore terminal in the Black Sea. A fire broke out on the Liberia-flagged tanker Asia (163,111 dwt), operated by Dynacom on behalf of Chevron, after it was hit by a drone. The fire was quickly brought under control thanks to the coordinated efforts of the crew and CPC emergency response teams.
The second vessel loading at the time of the attack was the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greece-linked Nissos Ios (157,447 dwt). Following the incident, loading activities at the terminal were halted for several hours to conduct security checks and damage assessments.
Sanctioned Tanker Also Targeted
After operations resumed, the tanker Nelsa (156,760 dwt), flying the flag of Cameroon, was attacked. A large fire broke out due to a drone strike that hit between the ship's superstructure and the engine room.
While it took hours to bring the fire under control, 22 crew members were safely evacuated by CPC tugs. It is known that Nelsa was placed on the sanctions list by the UK in 2024 and by the European Union in 2025 due to its activities in the Russian oil trade.
Kazakhstan's Strong Reaction
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy of Kazakhstan condemned the attacks targeting civilian energy infrastructure in strong language. Officials stated that targeting facilities critical to international trade is unacceptable.
CPC also stated in its announcement that a significant portion of the oil transported through the facility belongs to international energy companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Eni, and Shell, and that approximately 75% of the exports are carried out by foreign partners.
Carrying 2% of World Oil Supply
The Caspian Oil Pipeline, approximately 1,500 kilometers long, transports crude oil extracted from Kazakhstan's largest oil fields to the Black Sea. The pipeline carries about 2% of the global oil supply and is strategically important for global energy security.
According to CPC data, approximately 70.5 million tons of oil were exported through the pipeline in 2025.
Attacks on Civilian Maritime Transportation Increasing
Officials noted that the recent incident marks the fifth attack targeting a completely civilian energy facility. Last week, the Liberia-flagged tanker Nordic Zenith (158,645 dwt), linked to Norway, was also attacked by a drone, and the fire on board was extinguished by the crew.
The targeting of commercial vessels and energy infrastructure in the Black Sea raises concerns regarding international maritime transportation and global energy supply security, while also highlighting the growing security risks in the region.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
