A tanker linked to Russian shadow fleet has been exploded in Italy, Ukrainian media reported. The Maltese-flagged vessel Seajewel was rocked by two explosions in the port of Savona in northwestern Italy on February 15. It was transporting oil from Russia to Europe. The vessel was damaged below the waterline, but an oil spill and casualties among the crew were avoided. The vessel’s crew members have reported hearing two loud bangs, and the hull’s concave deformation suggests the possible use of explosive devices. Italian news outlet IVG reported that a hole has been blown in the hull of the vessel. The Savona Coast Guard is investigating the site with divers, but officials have not yet disclosed further details. "Fortunately, the sheets of the safety chamber held, avoiding the oil spill into the sea and avoiding an environmental disaster," the publication reported, noting that authorities said the ship isn't at risk of sinking. The prosecutor's office is considering multiple theories regarding the explosion, ranging from a technical breakdown to a collision to the detonation of ammunition. The incident comes just days after another oil tanker, the Koala, was rocked near St. Petersburg in Russia.
Russia’s shadow fleet that relies on dubious insurers to evade the oil price cap, reportedly accounts for around 17 percent all oil tankers worldwide.
