Turkey Condemns Attack on Black Sea Oil Tanker Departing Russia
A marine drone struck a crude oil tanker in the Black Sea on March 26. The impact caused an explosion near Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait.
Immediate response
Turkey condemned the attack and said it targeted a Turkish-operated ship. The Transport Ministry said the incident happened in the early hours.
The coastguard was dispatched to the tanker about 18 nautical miles (33 km) from the Bosphorus. All 27 crew members were reported in good health.
Vessel details
The vessel is the Sierra Leone-flagged tanker ALTURA. It had departed the Russian port of Novorossiysk nearly fully laden.
- Estimated cargo: about 1 million barrels of crude oil.
- Registered owner: Sea Grace Shipping Ltd (China).
- Manager: Pergamon Denizcilik (Turkey).
- The ship is under sanctions by the European Union and Britain.
Location and intent
Authorities said the strike occurred just outside Turkish territorial waters and within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone. Officials believe the attack aimed to disable the vessel’s engine room.
Turkey warned the incident violated international law. The government said the event posed serious risks to life, shipping, and the environment.
Security and regional implications
The defence ministry said it is closely monitoring drone risks in the Black Sea. It cited the heavy use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Officials warned drones can lose control and drift toward the Turkish coast. Ankara has urged both Kyiv and Moscow to avoid attacks near Turkish waters.
Wider context
Several recent episodes involved Western-sanctioned vessels arriving from or departing Russia. Late last year, shipping insurance rates rose after naval drone strikes on Russia-bound tankers.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow or Kyiv. Turkey said it was contacting relevant parties to prevent further escalation and to protect its economic interests.
Filmogaz.com will follow developments related to this Black Sea oil tanker attack and report updates as they become available.
