Which oil tanker was hit by a drone in the Black Sea?

The Palau-flagged oil tanker Elbus was hit by a suspected drone.

How many tankers have been hit in the Black Sea since November?

The Elbus is the fifth tanker to be hit in the Black Sea since November.

What happened after the Elbus tanker was attacked?

The Elbus issued a distress call, changed direction to Turkish waters, and was towed to Inebolu port for damage inspection.

Home / War and Conflict / Black Sea Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack

Black Sea Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack

8 Jan

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Summary

A Russia-bound oil tanker, the Elbus, was struck by a suspected drone.
The vessel issued a distress call and headed towards Turkish waters.
This marks the fifth tanker hit in the Black Sea since November.

Black Sea Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack

A suspected drone strike has impacted a Russia-bound oil tanker, the Elbus, in the Black Sea. The vessel, sailing approximately 30 miles off the coast of Turkey, reportedly emitted a distress call after sustaining damage to its upper sections. Turkish coastguard teams were dispatched and assisted the tanker, which then changed course towards Turkish waters.

The Palau-flagged Elbus, built in 2005 and registered to a Hong Kong company, was not under Western sanctions. This incident is the fifth time a tanker has been targeted in the Black Sea since November, indicating a pattern of disruption to Russia's oil export revenue. The vessel was headed for Novorossiysk, a key Russian port.

Fortunately, no injuries to the crew were reported. This event follows closely behind the US seizure of the Russian-linked Marinera tanker in the North Atlantic due to sanctions related to Venezuela, underscoring heightened maritime tensions and international scrutiny of oil flows.