Oil Tanker Targeted in Black Sea Near Istanbul

Suspected underwater drone strike raises maritime security concerns A foreign-flagged, Turkish-operated crude oil tanker has been targeted in an attack in the Black Sea near Istanbul, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in a strategically vital corridor. The vessel, Altura, carrying around 140,000 tonnes of crude oil, was struck on Thursday, with the engine room believed to be the primary target. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the explosion may have been caused by an unmanned underwater vehicle. “There was an explosion in the engine room of a Turkish-operated, foreign-flagged ship that had recently departed from Russia,” the minister stated during a live broadcast. All 27 Turkish crew members on board were reported safe, with no casualties confirmed. Technical teams have been deployed to assess the damage, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. The incident underscores growing risks facing global shipping routes, as regional tensions increasingly affect energy transport and maritime security. Source: Newstimehub Türkiye Black Sea Oil Tanker Security Maritime