The Greek tanker was targeted in an attack on Saturday near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, its owners reported, while Greek authorities stated that the crew is safe, LETA reported citing AFP.
The Athens-based company "Maran Tankers Management" reported that early Saturday morning, the tanker "Maran Homer" was hit by an "unknown object" while it was outside Russian territorial waters awaiting instructions to enter the "Caspian Pipeline Consortium" (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk.
The company stated that the Suezmax tanker, flying the Greek flag, was supposed to transport a cargo of Kazakh oil.
"The ship's deck and deck equipment sustained only minor material damage. The tanker was not carrying cargo, and there was no environmental pollution. It has already left Novorossiysk," the company added.
Greece's Ministry of Merchant Marine reported that "the health condition of the 24 crew members — ten citizens of Greece, 13 citizens of the Philippines, and one citizen of Romania — is good."
Minister of Maritime Affairs Vassilis Kikilias stated that the tanker was chartered by the American energy company "Chevron," and the attack "may be related" to the easing of sanctions on Russian oil.
The U.S. has relaxed some restrictions on trading Russian oil in an attempt to stabilize global energy markets, which have been shaken by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in the Middle East.
Kikilias stated that Saturday's attack is not related to the war in the Middle East, according to the state broadcaster ERT.
Kikilias added that Greece will raise the issue at the level of European Union leaders if necessary, calling attacks on vessels flying the Greek flag or with Greek crews "unacceptable and extremely dangerous."
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