Crude Oil Tanker Nordic Zenith Attacked by Drones in Black Sea

Reuters reported citing the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) that a fire broke out aboard the crude oil tanker Nordic Zenith after it was attacked by two drones off the Russian Black Sea coast. The vessel was chartered to load cargo at the CPC terminal. CPC has not identified the attacker.

Crude Oil Tanker NORDIC ZENITH, image credit: HB Spotter

The incident occurred on 17 July, when the vessel was attacked and damaged by two drones. A fire broke out aboard the ship but was later extinguished. Thirteen crew members were rescued by nearby CPC vessels, while nine others chose to remain on board.

The vessel has been declared unfit for mooring or loading operations at the CPC terminal and has been removed from the loading queue.

The Nordic Zenith is a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker built in 2011. The vessel measures 274.4 metres in length, with a beam of 48 metres and a gross tonnage of 81,509.