A Greek-operated oil tanker was likely damaged by an external explosive device while sailing off the Libyan coast last week, according to a preliminary investigation cited by the vessel’s operator, TMS Tankers.
The Vilamoura, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, departed the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 en route to Gibraltar with approximately one million barrels of crude oil when an explosion occurred in its engine room.
In a statement released on Sunday, TMS Tankers said, “Preliminary investigation findings clearly indicate that the explosion, the resulting fracture of the side shell plating, and the flooding of the engine room were caused by an external source — an unidentified explosive device.”
Maritime security sources a limpet mine may have been responsible for the blast, marking the Vilamoura as the fifth commercial vessel in recent months to be affected by similar incidents in the region.
Following the explosion and engine room flooding, the vessel lost maneuverability but was successfully towed toward Greece. It has since arrived safely at Laconikos Bay, and the crew are reported to be in good health, the operator confirmed.