A Greek-owned tanker was attacked near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Saturday, its owners said, with Greek authorities noting the crew was safe.
The Athens-based Maran Tankers Management said the Maran Homer was hit by an “unknown object” early on Saturday while sailing outside Russian territorial waters awaiting instructions to enter the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) Terminal in Novorossiysk.
The Greek-flagged Suezmax was to load a cargo of Kazakh crude oil, the company said.
“Only minor material damage was sustained to the vessel’s deck and deck equipment. The tanker was not carrying any cargo and there is no environmental pollution. It has already departed from Novorossiysk,” the company added.
The Greek merchant marine ministry said the crew of 24 — 10 Greeks, 13 Filipinos and a Romanian — were “in good health.”
Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the tanker had been chartered by US energy giant Chevron, and the attack “could be related” to the easing of sanctions on Russian oil.
The United States has eased some restrictions on Russia’s oil sales as it tries to stabilise global energy markets, upended by Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in the Middle East.
The Saturday attack was not associated with the Middle East war, Kikilias told state TV ERT.
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