Greek Tanker Struck by Suspected Missile in Black Sea

A Greek-flagged oil tanker was struck by a suspected drone or missile in the Black Sea early Saturday, authorities reported, with all 24 crew members escaping unharmed despite material damage to the vessel.

The incident involved the Maran Homer, owned and operated by Maran Tankers Management, a division of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group, and chartered by the energy company Chevron. The tanker had departed from Thessaloniki in northern Greece and was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, approximately 14 nautical miles from the coastline, before continuing to Istanbul to load Kazakh oil. At the time of the strike, the ship was sailing empty. The projectile hit the starboard side, causing unspecified structural damage but no threat to seaworthiness or risk of an oil spill. The vessel proceeded under its own power to a safer location for inspection, and no assistance was required.

Greece's Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirmed the details, noting that the crew consists of 10 Greek nationals, 13 Filipinos, and one Romanian, all reported safe and in good health. The exact type of projectile remains under investigation, with initial assessments pointing to a small missile...