A massive explosion struck the Seajewel oil tanker while it was docked in the Italian port of Savona on February 14.
The vessel, which had previously transported Russian oil, sustained hull damage below the waterline, but authorities confirmed that no oil spill occurred and all crew members were unharmed.
According to Italian publication Fatto Quotidiano, the explosion occurred as the tanker, sailing under a Maltese flag, began unloading oil after arriving from Algeria.
Local reports suggest that the Savona prosecutor's office is investigating multiple possible causes, including a mechanical failure, collision, or even a planted explosive device.
Authorities are conducting technical inspections, citing “some anomalies” in the oil unloading process.
Meanwhile, Ukrainska Pravda reports that the Seajewel has repeatedly transported Russian oil — loading cargo in Russia multiple times in 2024 before making stops in ports like Constanta, Romania, and Ceyhan, Turkey.
Not the First Incident
This explosion comes just days after a similar incident in Russia’s Ust-Luga port on February 9. The Koala tanker, linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet”, suffered an explosion in its engine room while carrying 130,000 tons of fuel oil.
The crew — including Russians, Georgians, and Indonesians — was safely evacuated.
The Koala is operated by Lagosmarine Limited, a Cyprus-based company recently hit by US sanctions for allegedly helping Russia evade oil restrictions. The company is believed to be a key player in Moscow’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”, which moves Russian oil despite Western trade restrictions.
