Drone Strikes Tanker at Caspian Pipeline Black Sea Terminal

A drone struck the tanker NELSA at Single Point Mooring 1 while the vessel loaded crude oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Black Sea terminal on Monday. The impact hit the starboard aft section, starting a fire on deck and in compartments between the accommodation block and engine room. Regional media reported the incident, and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium confirmed the details.

Emergency crews extinguished the fire within hours. The tanker stayed afloat and no oil spill was reported. The suspension marks the second halt in loadings in less than 24 hours. On Sunday a separate drone attack forced a temporary stoppage that resumed later the same evening.

No official statements had been issued as of the time of writing on when loadings would resume. The terminal handles crude from Kazakhstan and other producers for export through the Black Sea.