Italian prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation into last weekend’s explosions that damaged an oil tanker off northern Italy, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas over the past month, Genoa’s chief prosecutor announced on Thursday.
The blasts struck the Greek-operated crude oil tanker Seajewel while it was anchored off the port of Savona-Vado, puncturing its hull below the waterline as it was offloading oil. The perpetrators of the attack remain unidentified, but, like other tankers recently targeted, the Seajewel had previously docked at a Russian port.
“We have retrieved the black box, but the ship has not been seized,” Genoa’s chief prosecutor Nicola Piacente told Reuters. The investigation, led by Genoa’s anti-terrorism unit, is treating the incident as a suspected “shipwreck aggravated by terrorist intent.”
Athens-based tanker operator Thenamaris confirmed that routine cargo operations were halted on February 15. “All crew members and third-party personnel involved in the cargo transfer are safe, and there has been no environmental damage,” the company stated, adding that it is cooperating with Italian authorities. The Seajewel remains on standby to resume its operations.
Italy’s opposition 5-Star Movement labeled the attack as “terrorist in nature” and called for a full parliamentary report once the investigation concludes.
The Seajewel is one of four tankers affected by unexplained explosions in recent weeks. Other vessels, including the Seacharm and Koala, have suffered similar damage, with all three having recently called at Russian ports, according to shipping data. Greek authorities are also investigating the incident involving the Seacharm, which occurred in January. Meanwhile, the Koala remains stranded in Russia’s Ust-Luga port after sustaining damage.
Concerns are mounting within the shipping industry over the rising number of incidents. The latest attacks follow the December sinking of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major off the Spanish coast, after an explosion tore through its engine room, leaving two crew members missing. Russia’s Foreign Ministry attributed the blast to unknown causes.
The growing pattern of attacks has raised alarms over maritime security in the region, with investigators now racing to determine whether the incidents are linked.
