A foreign-flagged, Turkish-operated crude oil tanker has been targeted in an attack in the Black Sea near Istanbul, authorities confirmed, raising concerns over maritime security in the region.
The vessel, Altura, carrying approximately 140,000 tonnes of crude oil, was struck on Thursday, with the engine room believed to be the primary target. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the explosion may have been caused by an unmanned underwater vehicle.
“There was an explosion in the engine room of a Turkish-operated, foreign-flagged ship that had recently departed from Russia,” the minister stated during a live broadcast.
All 27 Turkish crew members on board were reported safe, with no casualties recorded.
Technical response teams have been dispatched to assess the damage, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
The incident highlights growing security risks in key maritime corridors, particularly as regional tensions continue to impact shipping routes and energy transport.
Source: TRT Africa
