Tankers

ALTURA

The Sierra Leone-flagged crude oil tanker Altura, en route from Novorossiysk, Russia, was attacked in the Black Sea on Thursday, 26 March. According to Turkish media outlets, Altura was reportedly carrying around 140,000 tonnes of crude oil and was attacked approximately 14 miles off the Bosphorus. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the 2005-built tanker was attacked by drones and by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). However, the Turkish authorities have yet not made any official statement confirming the cause of the incident or whether it was a deliberate attack. Initial reports indicate that the vessel sustained damage to its bridge and engine room, and water ingress was reported. The tanker subsequently issued a distress call, and the nearby vessel Erdek provided immediate assistance. Turkish tugs and patrol boats, were dispatched by authorities to assist the distressed vessel. Authorities confirmed that all 27 crew members were safe and that no injuries were reported in the incident. The Altura has been listed under sanctions by the European Union since 24 October, 2025, with additional sanctions imposed by Switzerland and Ukraine in December 2025, and the United Kingdom in February 2026. Drone attacks on three tankers Fri May 29 12:54:08 CEST 2026 Timsen On May 27/28, 2026, three shadow fleet tankers that had transited into the Black Sea came under attack. The 'James II' (IMO: 9253909), which was underway, appeared to have suffered damage, while the drones targeting the tankers 'Altura', which was loaded with 140000 tons crude, and 'Velora' (IMO: 9290373), which were anchored about 14 miles off the Turkish coast in the Black Sea in pos. 41° 39' N 028° 34' E, appeared to have failed to explode. The tankers were engaged in an STS transfer near Kilyos, north of Istanbul, and had to be evacuated. The 'Altura' had transited the Bosphorus on March 16 and was moored since March 27. The 'Velora' had transited the Strait on April 7. Both ships had been stationary near Yenikoy since. Coastal Safety lifeboats were sent to ‌the ⁠scene for assistance. All crew members aboard the tankers were reported in good condition. Both the 'Velora' and 'Altura' were reported as being registered in Sierra Leone, although the 'Altura'’s flag has been listed as false already since November 2025. The tankers were managed by companies in Turkey and sanctioned by the UK and EU. The 'Altura' had already been damaged in an attack on March 26. The 'Altura' was subject to sanctions by Ukraine, the EU, the UK, and Switzerland. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the vessel has made over 20 calls at Russian ports, regularly transporting millions of barrels of Russian oil (including from Rosneft) in circumvention of G7 restrictions and the price cap. Between January 2024 and July 2025, it transported approximately 6 million barrels of Russian oil. Furthermore, the vessel could be linked to an Iranian tanker network controlled by the inner circle of Iran’s top leadership. Photo and video: https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/2059995405362811355 https://x.com/HaberDenizde/status/2059975433550966912