According to regional media reports, an unmanned aircraft struck the tanker NELSA while the vessel was loading crude oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal on Monday. The strike damaged the tanker's starboard aft section, igniting fires both on deck and in compartments near the accommodation and engine room areas. The incident prompted authorities to suspend export operations at the facility, marking the second halt within a 24-hour window.
Emergency response teams extinguished the fires within hours, and the tanker remained at the terminal as investigations into the attack commenced. The CPC's export hub serves as a critical conduit for crude shipments from the Caspian region, with disruptions to its operations carrying significant implications for global energy markets and commodity pricing.
Repeated interruptions at major export terminals underscore vulnerability in critical energy infrastructure and potential supply chain risks. The recurring nature of these incidents raises questions about security measures and their adequacy in protecting essential oil facilities from emerging aerial threats.