SEAJEWEL

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Italian prosecutor opens terrorism investigation

The Italian authorities have opened a terrorism investigation into the explosions that damaged the 'Seajewel', the chief prosecutor of the city of Genoa said on Feb 20. Two explosions blew a hole below the waterline of the Greek-operated ship, which was moored 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.

Terrorism, sabotage, mechanical failure or collision may be behind hull damage

Investigators of the Italian authorities were exploring terrorism or sabotage after two holes were discovered in the 'Seajewel', but did not rule out mechanical failures or a previous collision damage as well. The Port Authority for Savona iissued a statement confirming what it called “anomalies in the unloading procedure.” The tanker had moored at one of the oil terminal buoys to begin offloading. The “anomalies” were observed overnight between Feb 14 into Feb 15, and the supervisors as a precaution suspended the offloading operation. No spills or injuries were reported among the 23 crew members, but they were seeking to verify the origin of the anomalies. They had heard two loud bangs and reported an ingress of water. A subsequent survey of the hull revealed two damaged plates. The inner hull held and there was no leak. The Savona Prosecutor’s Office also brought in an elite team of divers to inspect the underside of the vessel. They confirmed that, there was a hole of about one meter length in the hull. The hull plates were bent inwards, which indicating an external force, and they found dead fish in the area near the damage to the hull. Italy’s anti-terrorism unit has also become involved in the investigation. The shipping company confirmed that an investigation was underway. In the past, the vessel had made frequent stops at Russia’s porr of Novorossiysk and traveling to Turkey, and had transported Russian oil on at least three occasions, in February, March, and May 2024. Security was being maintained around the 'Seajewel', while divers were working around the vessel.

Shadow tanker with Russian oil damaged by explosions

On the night of Feb 15, 2025, two explosions occurred on the 'Seajewel', which was anchored off the coast of Savona at the Sarpom Offshore Terminal in pos. 44° 17' N 008° 28' E. There was a leak at the height of the waterline, but no oil leakage has been recorded. No one was injured in the explosion, and the ship was not in danger of sinking. However, the crew claimed that they heard two loud bangs before the explosions. During the inspection, two hull sheets were found bent inward, which may indicate the presence of two devices located on the outside of the hull. The Savona Coast Guard inspected the scene with divers. The port authority stated: “During the unloading of crude oil, the specialized personnel supervising these operations noticed some anomalies in the unloading procedure and decided, in consultation with this port office, to interrupt them for reasons of caution. The Harbour Master's office immediately implemented the procedures outlined in the port's pollution control and firefighting plans. No spills or injuries were reported. Technical investigations are currently underway on board the vessel to verify the origin of these anomalies and address them so that operations can continue safely.” The Savona Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a case on the incident and was considering all possible versions, including a terrorist attack. The Genoa prosecutor's office and the anti-mafia and anti-terrorism department have joined the investigation. The tanker had arrived on Feb 14 from the Russian CPC Marine Terminal near Novorossyisk. The tanker is one of the vessels that continue to transport Russian oil to the European Union despite sanctions related to the war in Ukraine. The 'Seajewel' is one of the tankers that were loaded with Russian cargo three times in 2024 (in February, March and May) and came back after each unloading. The tanker was spotted unloading in the port of Constanța after arriving from the port of Ceyhan. Sources in law enforcement agencies reported that the tanker was supposed to be heading to the Russian city of Novorossiysk for transshipment. Report with photos: https://www.ivg.it/2025/02/squarcio-nello-scafo-della-petroliera-seajewel-a-savona-allertato-lantiterrorismo-lombra-del-petrolio-russo/