Three tankers damaged by explosions in the Mediterranean after recent visits to Russian ports — Reuters

Explosions have struck three oil tankers in different parts of the Mediterranean over the past month, Reuters reported, citing sources in the maritime shipping industry and security services. The causes remain unclear. Vessel tracking data indicates that all three tankers had recently been at Russian ports.

On February 15, an explosion damaged the hull of the tanker Seajewel, operated by the Greek company Thenamaris, while it was anchored off the Savona-Vado port in northern Italy. A second explosion occurred on the same vessel 20 minutes later but did not cause additional damage.

In late January, an explosion in the Turkish port of Ceyhan damaged the tanker Seacharm, also operated by Thenamaris, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters.

A third incident occurred off Libya in February. The tanker Grace Ferrum sustained severe damage, three sources told Reuters. The vessel is operated by the Cypriot company Cymare and sails under the Liberian flag.

The series of explosions has raised growing concerns within the maritime shipping sector, industry sources told Reuters.

In late December, a Russian merchant ship, the Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean. The vessel’s owner, Oboronlogistika, a company affiliated with Russia’s Defense Ministry, said the ship had been struck in a “targeted terrorist attack.” The Ursa Major had reportedly been used for years to transport supplies for Russia’s military operations in Syria.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, Seajewel is part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which is used to transport Russian oil to Europe despite Western sanctions.

Investigators say Russia relies on a fleet of hundreds of vessels — officially unaffiliated with the country — to circumvent European and U.S. sanctions on its oil and petroleum exports.