ATHENS, Greece — A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling in the Black Sea toward Russia’s Novorossiysk was damaged in a suspected drone attack early Saturday, Greek authorities said, with the 24 crew members unharmed and the vessel’s seaworthiness not threatened.
Greek officials said the Maran Homer, chartered by Chevron, was heading from Thessaloniki in northern Greece toward the Black Sea port before continuing onward to Istanbul when it was hit by a missile or drone, according to statements attributed to Greek government officials and the vessel’s Greek operating company.
Greek Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias said Athens would file a “strong complaint” with the country it deems responsible, while declining to provide additional details about the incident. He later told state-run ERT television that Athens considered attacks on vessels flying the Greek flag—along with those carrying Greek sailors and Greek shipping interests—to be unacceptable and extremely dangerous.
Kikilias said he believed the attack could be connected to U.S. moves affecting Russian oil trade. In his account, he tied the incident to a U.S. decision to temporarily ease some sanctions on Russian oil shipments, attributing the move to volatility caused by the Iran war.
The AP report also said the war has disrupted Greece’s large shipping industry, with dozens of Greek-flagged or Greek-owned vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the broader strain on maritime routes and energy flows.