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A Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 24 crew members, including 10 Greek sailors, was struck early Saturday near the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, according to Greece’s shipping authorities. Despite the incident, officials say all crew members are safe and unharmed.
Greece’s Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Kikilias, confirmed the attack during an appearance on ERTNews. He said the vessel, currently chartered by Chevron, was sailing about 14 nautical miles from Novorossiysk when it was hit by what authorities believe was a small missile.
According to the minister, the strike caused damage to the ship’s starboard side but did not result in injuries among the crew. All 24 sailors aboard the tanker, including the 10 Greek nationals, were reported to be in good health.
Kikilias indicated that the attack may be linked to regional tensions surrounding oil shipments. He suggested it could be connected to recent decisions allowing the limited transport of Russian oil for a one-month period, which has increased pressure and security concerns in the area.
The minister said he has already informed Greece’s Prime Minister and the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister about the incident.
Athens plans to raise the issue at the European level, Kikilias added, stressing that attacks on Greek-flagged vessels and seafarers performing legitimate commercial work are unacceptable and dangerous. He emphasized that Greek shipping crews should not become targets during geopolitical conflicts or military hostilities.
At this stage, the damage to the tanker appears to be limited to the vessel’s structure, with no reported environmental spill or casualties.
