Overview
- A Greek-run Suezmax tanker was struck in the Black Sea close to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s Novorossiysk terminal in an attack reported on Sunday that ended a near three-week lull in strikes.
- Reports conflict over the ship’s identity and status with some sources naming the vessel Skiros and saying it had loaded Russian-origin cargo while others identify it as Maran Homer and say it was sitting in ballast waiting to load Kazakh crude.
- The vessel’s operator said there were no crew injuries and no oil leaks, but investigators and authorities have not announced a confirmed attribution and no group has claimed responsibility.
- The CPC terminal handles a large share of Kazakhstan’s crude exports and is partially owned by international oil majors, so repeated strikes sharpen operational, insurance, and corporate risk for owners and buyers.
- Following the Aug. 16–17 attacks, Greece’s shipping ministry has urged stronger protections for tankers and the incidents have already led to higher war-risk premiums, routing changes, and renewed concern about possible pauses to CPC loading that could tighten supplies.