Greek-Managed Oil Tankers Struck by Drones in Black Sea
Unidentified drones attacked four oil tankers managed by Greece in the Black Sea on Tuesday, January 13. The vessels were heading to load oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal off the Russian coast when the strikes occurred.
Details of the Drone Attack
Reuters reported the incident, citing sources familiar with the matter. The identity of the attackers remains unclear. Speculation points toward Ukraine due to the proximity to the Russian coast, but Kyiv has not commented on the event.
The CPC confirmed in a statement that the tanker Matilda suffered a drone hit on January 13. A Thenamaris official verified this, noting Matilda was struck by two drones while waiting in ballast condition about 30 miles from the CPC terminal.
"There were no injuries and the ship suffered minor damage to deck structures according to an initial assessment, which is fully repairable. The ship, seaworthy as it is, is now sailing away from the area," the company official stated.
Impact on Oil Exports and Production
This attack follows a previous incident where a Ukrainian drone hit one of three main CPC moorings near Novorossyisk port. That earlier strike caused oil exports and output in Kazakhstan to decline.
Oil and gas condensate production in Kazakhstan dropped 35 percent between January 1 and 12 compared to December's average. A source attributed this decrease to export restrictions at the Black Sea terminal.
Kazakhstan's energy ministry announced on Tuesday that the CPC continues oil exports using one mooring. The ministry emphasized efforts to maintain operations despite the disruptions.
Specific Tankers and Their Cargo
LSEG data identified one of the affected tankers as Delta Harmony, managed by Greece's Delta Tankers. Sources expected it to load Kazakh-produced oil from Tengizchevroil, a unit of US oil major Chevron.
Another tanker, Matilda, managed by Greece's Thenamaris, was slated to load oil from Karachaganak. Two additional vessels, Freud and Delta Supreme, managed by TMS and Delta Tankers respectively, also faced drone strikes near the CPC terminal, according to three sources.
Two maritime security sources reported a fire broke out on board one of the tankers, but crews extinguished it quickly. The incident caused only minor structural damage with no casualties.
Background on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium
The CPC pipeline transports oil to the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal in the Black Sea, close to Novorossiisk in southern Russia. This infrastructure plays a crucial role in regional oil exports, particularly for Kazakhstan.
Recent attacks highlight the vulnerability of maritime routes in the area. The ongoing conflict in the region continues to pose risks to international shipping and energy supplies.
