A Turkish crude oil tanker was struck by a drone near the Bosphorus strait, with all crew reported safe and no casualties.
ANKARA: A Turkish crude oil tanker was hit by a drone approximately 15 nautical miles off Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait on Thursday.
Broadcaster NTV reported the incident, stating that all 27 personnel on board the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, the Altura, were safe.
The tanker had departed from Russia’s port of Novorossiysk carrying about 1 million barrels of crude oil, according to ship-tracking data.
The vessel is sanctioned by the European Union and Britain.
NTV reported an explosion on the ship’s bridge when it was struck in the Black Sea, causing its engine room to take on water.
The vessel subsequently requested assistance, prompting the dispatch of a Turkish coast guard vessel and an emergency response ship.
The broadcaster confirmed there were no casualties from the incident.
The Altura is owned by Turkish firm Besiktas.