In a dangerous new escalation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a drone attack targeting an oil tanker conducting loading operations at the Single Point Mooring 3 mooring point of the Caspian Pipeline VPUS-3 terminal (КТК or CPC) at 01:48 Moscow time. According to an official announcement by the consortium, the target was the oil tanker NISSOS SIFNOS, owned by shipping company Kyklades Maritime Corp (Alafouzos Group) flying the Marshall Islands flag, which was carrying cargo belonging to Tengizchevroyl (Chevron).
Deck fire and rapid extinguishing
The drone strike triggered a fire in the oil manifold area on the ship's cargo deck. The fire was brought under control and swiftly put out thanks to the immediate intervention of the tanker's crew members and the assistance of three CPC support vessels that rushed to the scene. "There are no injuries or casualties among CPC personnel and partner companies, and an oil spill was avoided. No medical assistance or crew evacuation was requested. The tanker retains its buoyancy, and an assessment of damages is currently underway. Loading operations were suspended, while remaining pipeline facilities are operating normally," stated the consortium's press office.
Attack on MARATHI (Alafouzos interests) - The July 19 precedent
At the same time, company representatives noted that six nautical miles from the CPC marine terminal, the oil tanker MARATHI, flying the Isle of Man flag, was also attacked while heading to load oil, and no details regarding the extent of damage it may have sustained are known as of this time. This new incident follows the attack on July 19, when Ukrainian military drones hit two more tankers (ASIA and NISSOS IOS) at the CPC VPUS-1 and VPUS-3 offshore loading facilities in the Black Sea, which transport fuel and oil for international energy companies. Neither of the two attacks resulted in casualties or injuries among crew members, while no marine oil pollution or leak was recorded. "The NISSOS SIFNOS remains afloat and in a stable condition, while technical teams and competent authorities proceed with evaluating structural damage caused by the impact." Following the attack, loading operations at the affected SPM 3 mooring point were temporarily suspended for maritime security reasons and to conduct required technical inspections. The technical and operational data for NISSOS SIFNOS, MARATHI, as well as sister vessel NISSOS IOS mentioned in these incidents include the following specifications:
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NISSOS SIFNOS Ship type: Crude oil tanker (Suezmax) IMO / MMSI: 9884045 / 538008913 Flag: Marshall Islands Year built: 2020 (Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, South Korea) Deadweight capacity (DWT): 157,447 tons Gross Tonnage: 81,502 GT Dimensions: Length 274.3 m / Beam 48 m Managing Company: Kyklades Maritime Corp (Alafouzos Group)
What oil these vessels transport
Tengizchevroil (TCO) is an international joint venture where overwhelming majority control and operational management belong to American interests. It was established in 1993 to exploit the giant Tengiz oil field located in Kazakhstan. Equity Breakdown Chevron (50%): US oil giant holding half of the enterprise and managing corporate administrative operations. ExxonMobil (25%): Also a US multinational, raising total US corporate ownership to 75%. KazMunayGas (20%): State oil and gas company of Kazakhstan. Lukoil (5%): Russian oil group (via its subsidiary LukArco).
How it connects to Black Sea incidents
Oil produced by Tengizchevroil in Kazakhstan is transported westward through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC / КТК), which crosses Russian territory and terminates at the Novorossiysk terminal on the Black Sea. There, Kazakh and US-owned crude is loaded onto commercial crude tankers—such as Nissos Sifnos and Nissos Ios—for distribution to global energy markets. This explains why drone strikes on this infrastructure directly affect US economic interests and global markets, despite transit occurring via Russian coastlines.
(Disclaimee: Image composite generated using artificial intelligence)
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