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A Russia-bound oil tanker was hit by a suspected drone in the Black Sea and later towed to a Turkish port for inspection, according to maritime reports and Turkish media.
According to security sources speaking to Türkiye Today, the empty oil tanker was hit by a suspected drone outside Turkish territorial waters.
Smoke was seen rising from the deck of Palau-flagged oil tanker Elbus about 30 miles off Türkiye’s Black Sea coast on Thursday. Reports said the vessel issued a distress call before abruptly changing course toward Turkish waters.
Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that the tanker was struck in its upper sections during what was believed to be a drone attack while sailing near the Abana district of Kastamonu province.
Following the distress call, Turkish coast guard teams were dispatched to the area and towed the vessel to Inebolu port for damage inspection. No crew injuries were reported.
The 899-foot tanker, built in 2005, is flagged in Palau and is reportedly registered to a Hong Kong-based company.
It was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, reportedly to load crude oil. The vessel is not sanctioned by Western countries.
Initial assessments suggested the tanker was hit by a Ukrainian aerial drone, though Ukrainian authorities have not commented.
The Elbus is the fifth tanker to be hit in the Black Sea since November, according to reports.
The vessel had sailed from Singapore and passed through the Bosphorus several days earlier.
Open-source intelligence and maritime tracking accounts reported that the ship changed direction immediately after issuing its distress signal.
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