Kathrine Frich
Tensions at sea are once again drawing global attention as a new incident involving a Russian-linked oil tanker unfolds.
The development comes amid an already volatile backdrop of naval seizures, sanctions enforcement and warnings of wider escalation.
Black Sea incident
Another oil tanker believed to be part of Vladimir Putin’s so-called shadow fleet was reportedly struck by a suspected drone in the Black Sea.
The Palau-flagged tanker Elbus was seen with smoke rising from its deck around 30 miles off the Turkish coast, according to local reports.
The vessel, which was known as Euroleader until last year, issued a distress call before abruptly changing course toward Turkish waters.
Turkish coastguard teams later towed the tanker to the port of İnebolu for inspection.
Conflicting accounts
No injuries among the crew were reported. The tanker was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, where it was expected to load crude oil.
Turkish broadcaster NTV reported: “The Elbus oil tanker, sailing approximately 30 miles off the coast of Abana district in Kastamonu, was hit in its upper sections during a drone attack.
Following a distress call from the ship, which is believed to have been the target of a drone attack, Coast Guard Command teams were dispatched to the area.”
Vessel background
The Elbus was built in 2005 and has a deadweight of 159,062 tonnes. It is not currently sanctioned by Western governments, according to available data.
Although flagged in Palau, the tanker is reportedly registered to a Hong Kong-based company.
It had sailed from Singapore and passed through the Bosphorus Strait days before the incident.
Wider context
The suspected attack comes just hours after the United States, with British support, seized the Russian-linked tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic.
That operation was carried out over alleged violations of sanctions related to Venezuela.
The Elbus is the fifth tanker to be hit in the Black Sea since November, in what analysts describe as part of Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s ability to generate revenue from oil exports used to fund its war.
Sources: Daily Express, Turkish broadcaster NTV
