Drone strike hits tanker at CPC terminal, halts oil loading
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A drone struck the tanker NELSA on July 19 at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, causing a fire that was extinguished after several hours. All 22 crew members were evacuated, and oil loading was suspended. The attack came shortly after loading had resumed following a previous drone strike.
The Attack
On the evening of July 19, a drone struck the tanker NELSA while it was loading at the CPC's berth VPU-1. The impact hit the starboard stern between the superstructure and engine room, igniting a fire on deck and in compartments. The fire was extinguished within hours, and all 22 crew members were evacuated safely.
CPC Operations
CPC had resumed crude loading at its terminals earlier on July 19 after a previous drone strike damaged another tanker. The new attack forced an immediate halt to loading operations. CPC did not disclose the cargo's origin or owner. The terminal is a key export route for Kazakh crude, handling over 80% of the country's oil exports.
Regional Context
The attack follows a pattern of drone strikes near CPC infrastructure amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine has previously targeted Russian oil facilities, though no group has claimed responsibility. The incident raises concerns about the security of energy infrastructure in the Black Sea region.
What's Next
CPC is assessing damage and has not announced a timeline for resuming loading. It remains unclear whether the attack will disrupt Kazakhstan's oil exports in the coming days.
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Drone strike hits tanker at CPC terminal, halts oil loading
