A drone attack on the Greek-operated tanker Skiros in the Black Sea caused a fire but no injuries, raising concerns over maritime safety.
Tanker Tension in the Black Sea: Greek-Managed Ship Targeted by Drone Attack
As mutual attacks between Ukraine and Russia increase risks to maritime transportation and port infrastructure, it has been reported that the 159,000 DWT Skiros tanker, managed by Greece, was targeted in a drone attack.
The attack, which reportedly occurred on Monday afternoon, resulted in a small fire on board the vessel. The fire was brought under control by the crew, while there are discrepancies in sources regarding the condition of the 13 crew members. According to current information, no crew injuries have been reported in the incident.
The Liberia-flagged Skiros, operated by IMS, became the second tanker targeted under attacks on oil terminals off Novorossiysk by Ukraine.
The Cargo of the Tanker Sparked Debate
Following the attack, the most pressing question was what type of oil the Skiros was carrying. The terminals around Novorossiysk process both Russian oil and oil transported via pipeline from Kazakhstan.
The vessel's AIS data indicated that it was heading towards the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), while Bloomberg reported that the tanker was loaded with Russian oil. This situation raised new questions regarding Ukraine's claims of not targeting foreign-flagged and non-sanctioned tankers.
Last week, U.S. Vice President JD Vance sent a message urging Ukraine to halt attacks on international tankers heading to or located at the CPC terminal. This call came after an attack on a Chevron-linked tanker.
Oil Exports from Novorossiysk Under Pressure
It has been reported that loading activities at the CPC terminal were temporarily halted due to the attacks, but according to Reuters sources, operations have resumed.
Russia's Sheskharis terminal also experienced disruptions following a drone attack attempt on a tanker that departed from the terminal last Friday. The Novorossiysk region stands out as one of Russia's critical centers for oil exports.
According to the Moscow Times, repeated attacks on Novorossiysk are seriously affecting Russia's oil exports. In addition to oil shipments, it was reported that three grain terminals in the city halted operations last week. However, the smaller-scale Tuapse grain terminal continued its exports.
Attacks on Ukrainian Ports Continue
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that in its attacks, it is targeting not only port infrastructure but also vessels 'used in line with the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.'
Russia reported that a patrol boat and fuel tanks were hit in the Port of Odessa, while in the Izmail Port on the Danube River, a terminal unloading military cargo and hangars containing Western-sourced military equipment and drones were targeted.
On the other hand, the Governor of Odessa Region, Oleg Kiper, announced that a Togolese-flagged commercial vessel was damaged. It was reported that four people were injured in the attack, three were hospitalized, and one of the injured is in serious condition.
Recent events in the Black Sea indicate that the impact of the war on maritime trade is growing again and that the nature of the cargo carried by commercial vessels has become a decisive factor in the risk of attacks.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
