Four Greek-operated oil tankers were targeted by unidentified drones near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast. According to eight sources cited by Reuters, two tankers were damaged; no crew injuries were reported.
Two of the targeted vessels were Delta Tankers-operated Delta Harmony and Thenamaris-operated Matilda. According to LSEG data, Delta Harmony was due to load oil from Tengizchevroil, and Matilda from the Karachaganak field. A fire on one ship was extinguished by the crew. A Thenamaris official confirmed Matilda was struck by two drones while waiting 30 miles off the CPC terminal, with minor damage and the ship remaining seaworthy.
The CPC terminal handles about 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports, transferring crude to Russia's Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal near Novorossiysk. On November 29, a Ukrainian drone hit one of CPC's three main mooring buoys. Driven by export restrictions at the Black Sea terminal, Kazakhstan's oil and gas condensate output fell 35% between January 1-12 versus the December average.
The Kazakh Energy Ministry said Tuesday that CPC oil exports continue through a single buoy. The strikes underscore mounting pressure from the Russia-Ukraine war on Black Sea shipping and global energy corridors, with persistent disruption to Kazakh crude becoming a critical risk for traders and refineries.
Key Takeaways:
1. Four Greek tankers were hit by drones near the Black Sea CPC terminal; two ships sustained damage.
2. Targeted vessels included Delta Harmony (Tengizchevroil) and Matilda (Karachaganak).
3. CPC handles roughly 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports.
4. Kazakh oil and gas condensate output fell 35% between January 1-12.
5. Exports currently continue through a single CPC mooring buoy.
