Grain-Laden Bulk Carrier In Flames Following Repeated Drone Strikes In Black Sea

A Greek-owned bulk carrier was engulfed in flames after being hit by atleast 5 drones while approaching to load grain at the Russian Port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.

The incident occurred 40 km from the port, though it remains unclear whether the Liberia-flagged Anna S, owned by Neptune Tradebulk Inc, is still afloat. Sources suggest that the vessel was almost burned out due to the intense fire.

Fortunately, all 21 crew, including 20 Filipino seafarers and the Romanian captain, were safely evacuated. This was the second attack in just 24 hours involving a Greek-owned vessel close to the Port of Novorossiysk.

On Sunday, the tanker Skiros was attacked by Ukrainian drones after it loaded Russian oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s terminal.

U.S President Donald Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July to halt attacks on ships near Novorossiysk to avoid disrupting exports of Kazakh oil through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium amidst global oil shortages and rising prices.

Ukraine had agreed to this condition provided that the vessels did not come under U.S sanctions and did not carry Russian cargo.

Repeated attacks in July disrupted operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). Kazakhstan also decided to reduce its oil production at the facility due to rising security concerns after 8 tankers came under attack.

Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s exports averaged around 1.3 million barrels per day in July, a reduction of 300,000 barrels a day from June and 600,000 from May.

Russian crude accounts for just 5-10% of CPC’s export shipments, with most oil coming from Kazakhstan.