Drones damaged an ExxonMobil oil tanker in the Black Sea
In the Black Sea near Novorossiysk, drones attacked the oil tanker Nordic Zenith, which, according to Reuters sources, was chartered by ExxonMobil. A fire broke out on the vessel following the attack, and part of the crew was evacuated.
The tanker sustained damage and can no longer participate in loading operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal. The vessel has been temporarily removed from the schedule.
Two drones attacked the oil tanker Nordic Zenith near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal close to Novorossiysk. Reuters reported this, citing a statement from the CPC and its own sources. According to their information, the vessel was chartered by the American company ExxonMobil. A fire broke out on board the tanker following the attack. It was subsequently extinguished.
Part of the crew was evacuated
After the strike, nearby vessels helped evacuate part of the crew. According to Reuters, 13 crew members were taken off the tanker, while nine others remained on board.
There are currently no reports of fatalities or serious injuries resulting from the attack. Following the damage, the Nordic Zenith was removed from the loading schedule. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium stated that the vessel can no longer operate at the terminal. “The vessel is unfit for mooring and loading operations at the terminal,” the CPC reported.
What is known about the CPC terminal
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is one of the largest oil routes used to transport crude oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea. Through the CPC system, oil is transported from fields in Kazakhstan to a special terminal near Novorossiysk. From there, it is loaded onto tankers and shipped to global markets.
According to the company, approximately 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports pass through this route. The attack on the tanker occurred in an area of critical importance for international oil shipments. An assessment of the vessel’s damage and the potential impact on the terminal’s operations is currently underway.
Investigations into the situation are ongoing
Following the incident, experts must determine the exact nature of the damage to the tanker and the causes of the attack. The Nordic Zenith will remain out of service until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. No official details have been released regarding who carried out the attack. Reuters reports this, citing a statement from CPC and its own sources.
As a reminder, on the night of July 8, strike drones of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a military airfield in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia. This airbase is home to aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which are used for both combat and training missions.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have reduced the Russian army’s ranks by another 1,260 soldiers. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released updated data on enemy losses as of July 8, also reporting the destruction of a significant amount of enemy equipment.
