Italian Prosecutors Suspect Terrorism in Oil Tanker Explosions
Genua, Italy – The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into suspected terrorism following a series of explosions on an oil tanker.
According to Nicola Piacente, Prosecutor General of Genua, the ship’s data recorder has been secured for analysis. The incident occurred on Saturday, when two explosions tore a 70 x 120 cm hole in the hull of the Seajewel below the waterline.
The vessel, operated by Greek shipping company Thenamaris, was anchored off Savona-Vado at the time of the blasts. The port, located approximately 60 km west of Genua, serves as a departure point for ferries to Corsica and Sardinia. According to the ship’s operator, there is no environmental risk posed by the incident.
This is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, a total of three oil tankers have been damaged by explosions in the Mediterranean Sea in separate incidents. The exact cause remains unknown in all three instances. However, experts and ship tracking data indicate that all three vessels had recently departed from Russian ports. Shipping industry insiders have expressed growing concern over these incidents.
The Seajewel is owned by Thenamaris, which announced on Wednesday that the crude oil tanker had ceased normal operations on Saturday. Another Thenamaris-operated oil tanker, the Seacharm, was also involved in an incident currently under investigation by Greek authorities. According to an insider, the Seacharm sustained damage from an explosion while anchored off the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan in late January. Thenamaris reports that the Seacharm is now operational.
A third incident occurred off the Libyan coast in February, where a chemical and oil tanker sailing under the Liberian flag was damaged. According to ship tracking data, the Grace Ferrum remains anchored off the Libyan coast.
In December, a tanker explosion occurred in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in decades. The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank off the coast of Spain after a blast destroyed its engine room. Two crew members remain missing, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The operator, which has ties to the Russian Ministry of Defense, alleged a terrorist attack at the time. Both the ship’s operator and the vessel itself were subject to US sanctions.
The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office is actively investigating the Seajewel explosions, focusing on determining the exact cause and potential perpetrators. The outcome of the inquiry may have significant implications for maritime security in the region.
