- Three oil tankers suffered blast damage in the Mediterranean over the past month.
- Affected ships were linked to Russian port calls, raising concerns in the shipping industry.
- Italy, Turkey, and Libya reported separate incidents affecting tankers.
- A Russian cargo ship sank off Spain in December after an explosion in its engine room.
The Mediterranean shipping industry is on high alert after three oil tankers suffered explosions in separate incidents over the past month, sources reported on February 19. The cause of the blasts remains unknown, marking the first major non-military vessel explosions in the region in decades, reports Reuters.
Details of the Incidents
February 17 – Italy:
Greek-operated crude oil tanker suffered a one-meter hull breach at a northern Italian port.
A second explosion followed 20 minutes later but caused no further damage.
Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident.
Late January – Turkey:
Another Greek-operated crude oil tanker was damaged by an explosion off the Turkish Mediterranean coast near Ceyhan.
February – Libya:
A Liberia-flagged chemical and products tanker was damaged off the Libyan coast.
The vessel is now disabled and awaiting salvage operations.
Tracking data confirmed all three ships had recently visited Russian ports before the incidents, sparking speculation about possible geopolitical links.
Rising Security Concerns
The shipping industry is increasingly concerned about the pattern of unexplained attacks. While no official cause has been determined, the incidents follow the December sinking of a Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, off Spain. That explosion, which destroyed its engine room, left two crew members missing.
Authorities and maritime security analysts are closely monitoring the situation, with investigations ongoing to determine whether these incidents are connected.
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Source: Reuters
