Suspected Ukrainian drones have targeted multiple vessels carrying crude and LNG in the Black and Mediterranean seas in recent months.
Greek-flagged oil tanker attack a “missile or drone” on Russia’s Black Sea coast, officials in Athens said. Several ships carrying Russian oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been targeted by suspected Ukrainian drones in recent months.
Kiev has singled out Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure in the Black Sea and beyond as a priority target.
On Saturday, the Maran Homer, with 24 sailors on board, was struck off the Russian port of Novorossiysk, Greek Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias revealed.
He relayed that the crew included ten Greeks, 13 Filipinos and a Romanian, none of whom were injured in the incident, Greek media reported. According to the ministry, the oil tanker was leaving the port of Thessaloniki before the collision “Missile or Drone (UAV)” 14 nautical miles from the Russian coast.
Maran Tankers Management Inc., which owns the vessel, said it expects Maran Homer. “Enter the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal … where it receives cargoes of Kazakh crude oil.” The attack only resulted “Minor material damage to deck and deck equipment.”
Marine Affairs Minister Kikilias explained “Unacceptable” Attacks on Greek-flagged and Greek-owned civilian ships, vowed to protest “At European Council level.”
Last week, the Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz LNG tanker was shot down by Ukrainian unmanned boats in the central Mediterranean off the coast of Malta.
All 30 Russian crew members were rescued by Russian and Maltese emergency services.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident “Terrorist attack.”
In January, Kazakh state-owned oil company Kazmunaigas (KMG) reported that Ukrainian drones targeted the Malta-flagged Matilda oil tanker in the Black Sea. The vessel was deployed to pick up cargo at the Russian port of Novorossiysk as part of an international Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) operation.
Last November, Ukrainian navy drones disrupted work on the project, which is partly owned by US oil majors Chevron and ExxonMobil.
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