Italy prosecutors open terrorism probe into tanker explosions

Italian authorities has opened a terrorism investigation into explosions last weekend that damaged an oil tanker off northern Italy.

The explosion which is the latest of four such incidents in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas in the past month, the chief prosecutor of the city of Genoa said.

Two explosions blew a hole below the waterline of the Greek-operated crude oil tanker Seajewel, while it was anchored on Saturday off the port of Savona-Vado and discharging oil.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the alleged attack on the Seajewel, which, like the other tankers hit by explosions, had recently called at a Russian port.

“We took over the black box, the ship was not seized,” Genoa chief prosecutor Nicola Piacente told newsmen in reference to Saturday’s explosion on the Seajewel.

The anti-terrorism section of Genoa’s Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating suspected “shipwreck aggravated by terrorist intent”, he said.

The tanker’s Athens-based operator, Thenamaris, said routine cargo operations were suspended on February 15.

“All crew on board the vessel and the third-party individuals involved in the cargo operations are safe, and there has been no harm to the environment as a result of the incident,” Thenamaris said, adding that it was cooperating with local authorities in the investigation.

“The vessel remains ready to resume its cargo operations.”

Lawmakers from Italy’s opposition 5-Star Movement described the incident as “terrorist in nature” and called for a report to be submitted to parliament once the investigation was over.

Three oil tankers have been damaged by blasts in the last month in separate incidents around the Mediterranean, with the causes unknown.

All three vessels had recently called at Russian ports, according to ship tracking data and sources.

The Seacharm tanker was among the vessels damaged in these incidents.

Its operator Thenamaris said Greek authorities were investigating what happened to the vessel in an incident which took place in January.

“The vessel (Seacharm) is currently undertaking normal operations,” Thenamaris said.

A fourth tanker, the Koala, was damaged and stuck in the Russian Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga.

Shipping industry officials have said there was growing concern over the incidents.

Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Spain in late December after an explosion ripped through its engine room and two of its crew were missing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said last month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere