Drones have attacked Nordic Zenith oil tanker in Black Sea, Reuters reports

Two drones have attacked and damaged the oil tanker Nordic Zenith near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal off Russia's Black Sea coast.

Source: Reuters, citing CPC and sources who said the vessel had been chartered by ExxonMobil

Details: A fire broke out on board the tanker following the strike but was later extinguished. Nearby vessels evacuated 13 crew members, while nine chose to remain on board.

The Nordic Zenith has been removed from the loading schedule. CPC said the vessel was unfit for mooring or loading operations at the terminal.

CPC transports oil from Kazakhstan's oilfields to its Black Sea terminal near Novorossiysk, from where it is shipped by tanker to global markets. Around 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports pass through the pipeline system.

Background: Previously, Russia struck a civilian merchant vessel flying the flag of Togo while it was unloading mineral fertilisers.

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