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A series of mysterious limpet mine attacks on oil tankers has shaken the shipping world, prompting speculation that the explosions were part of a state-backed sabotage campaign.
Five vessels have been hit by deliberate blasts this year, with the latest incident flooding the engine room of the Greek-owned tanker the Vilamoura last week as it sailed off the coast of Libya.
All the vessels called at Russian ports within weeks of the attacks, prompting some security experts to suggest that Ukraine had a hand in the explosions.
Kyiv has not addressed whether it was directly involved but its security forces have a record of covert action against Russian interests. Ukraine’s military intelligence released a statement on Tuesday that described the Vilamoura as a tanker belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
One security adviser in the sector said that initially “all fingers” had pointed to Ukraine. But differences in the nature of the attack on the Vilamoura — which was hit on its hull rather than its side — have generated theories about whether other potential saboteurs were responsible for at least some of the attacks.
Four of the vessels had called at ports in Libya, a country split between rival factions that rely on revenues from oil shipments. All of the tankers also have a record of anchoring off Malta to take on supplies.
The attack on the Vilamoura last week followed another largely similar incident in January and three in February. While most of the incidents have been in the Mediterranean, one tanker was hit in the Baltic Sea.
Martin Kelly, head of advisory for maritime security experts EOS Risk Group, said that there were only “some” similarities between the latest incident and earlier ones.
“There remains a range of alternative possibilities including Libyan actors, and other state actors which have the capability and possibly motive,” Kelly said.
Even before the latest explosion, Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, last month expressed concern about the spate of blasts.
“I confirm that we will closely monitor these incidents and the investigations into them,” he told the body’s safety committee.
Four of the vessels belonged to well-known Greek and Cypriot shipowners. The Vilamoura, hit last week, is part of the Cardiff Group of George Economou, a shipping entrepreneur.
The Seacharm, hit in January off Turkey, and the Seajewel, hit in February in Italy, both belong to Thenamaris, a large shipping group controlled by Nikolas Martinos.
The Grace Ferrum, damaged off Libya in February, belongs to Cyprus’s Cymare.
The Koala was damaged in an explosion in Russia’s Ust-Luga Port in February. The ship was placed under sanctions by the EU in May for the improper transportation of Russian oil.
There is no suggestion the other vessels breached G7 rules by carrying Russian oil bought for more than $60 a barrel. Ship tracking data suggests the vessels attacked called mainly at Russian ports that handle oil produced in Kazakhstan, which is not subject to sanctions.
TMS Tankers confirmed its vessel had suffered an “explosion in the engine room” while carrying 1mn barrels of crude oil loaded at Zuwetina in Libya. There were no injuries or pollution.
“The engine room was flooded and the vessel lost manoeuvrability, but water ingress ceased and she remained stable,” the company said.
Thenamaris confirmed its vessels had earlier this year suffered “security incidents at separate points in time and in different geographic locations in the Mediterranean Sea”.
“Thenamaris, always compliant with international and European rules and regulations, has been fully co-operating with the relevant authorities to support their ongoing investigations,” it said.
Additional reporting: Fabrice Deprez in Kyiv
