- A tanker sustained damage from four external blasts while anchored off West Africa.
- The vessel’s operator announced it will stop all activities connected to Russia due to rising security risks.
- The incident came just before a series of drone attacks in the Black Sea intensified regional tensions.
An operator of a tanker damaged near the coast of West Africa last week has announced it will cease all shipping operations tied to Russia. The vessel was at anchor when four external explosions struck, causing seawater to enter the engine room. The cause of the blasts remains unclear.
As reported by Reuters, the company said a full review of the security situation showed that risks to vessels and crew had become “untenable”, prompting an immediate halt to all Russia-related voyages.
Security Concerns Escalate Across Multiple Regions
The explosions occurred one day before naval drones struck two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea. Another tanker reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast shortly after. These successive incidents have increased concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in both regions.
Officials have called for communication between all parties involved, with assurances that relevant authorities have been notified of the recent attacks.
Compliance Maintained, But Risks Too High
The operator noted that it has consistently complied with international sanctions and pricing mechanisms. However, the rising threat environment, combined with recent attacks, led to the decision to suspend all involvement in Russia-linked trades indefinitely.
The company emphasised that crew safety remains its highest priority as instability continues to affect maritime routes linked to the conflict.
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Source: Reuters
