What we know about attack on oil tanker in Black Sea with unmanned surface vehicles
The tanker’s crew of 23 Indian nationals has been rescued
MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/. A tanker flying the flag of Liberia and carrying crude oil was attacked with uncrewed boats off the Black Sea coast on Tuesday evening, according to the Russian Transport Ministry.
Its crew of 23 Indian nationals has been rescued, the ministry said. According to preliminary information, no one was hurt.
TASS has compiled the key details about the incident.
Circumstances behind attack
— On October 6, the Russian Transport Ministry reported that the Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio tanker loaded with oil was attacked with unmanned surface vessels off the Black Sea coast.
— It will be possible to begin firefighting operations once the intensity of the fire subsides so that rescue vessels can safely approach the tanker, the ministry specified.
— Russia’s environmental watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, is monitoring the situation in the Black Sea following the attack.
— There is currently no evidence of pollution, Rosprirodnadzor told TASS.
— The concentration of contaminating substances on the premises within the Sirius Federal Territory remains within the maximum permissible levels despite the tanker fire in the vicinity of the Black Sea, Sirius head Dmitry Plishkin said.
— No excess of maximum permissible pollutant concentrations in the air in Sochi was found, the mayor’s office wrote on its Telegram channel.
— No oil leak or threat to the coastline was reported.
— The open fire has now been extinguished, the Transport Ministry said.
— Rescue vessels remain on duty.
— Russia’s Transport, Emergencies and Defense ministries and Krasnodar Region authorities have begun clearing the aftermath of the attack on the Aframax Rio tanker in the Black Sea, the Transport Ministry said.
Tanker crew
— The crew of 23 people, all of them citizens of India, has been rescued, the Russian Transport Ministry said.
— According to preliminary information, no one has been reported hurt.
Response
— Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin chaired a crisis response meeting following the emergency.
— The available forces and means are sufficient to deal with the aftermath, the ministry emphasized.
— Authorities in Sochi temporarily restricted access to promenades and beaches amid the Black Sea tanker fire, Mayor Andrey Proshunin said.
