On July 30, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (KTC) halted oil loading…
On July 30, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (KTC) halted oil loading at its Black Sea terminal in Novorossiysk after two tankers, NISSOS SIFNOS and MARATHI, were attacked by drones. The attack on NISSOS SIFNOS caused a fire on its cargo deck, which was extinguished without casualties or oil spills. The terminal's pipeline infrastructure continued operating normally, but loading was suspended. This incident followed a series of prior drone attacks on the terminal and its vessels.
Consensus
- Two tankers, NISSOS SIFNOS (under Marshall Islands flag) and MARATHI (under Isle of Man flag), were attacked by drones near the KTC terminal in Novorossiysk on July 30.
- The attack on NISSOS SIFNOS occurred during oil loading at the floating dock VPU-3 and caused a fire on the cargo deck.
- The fire on NISSOS SIFNOS was extinguished by the ship's crew with assistance from three KTC support vessels.
- No casualties or oil spills were reported.
- The tanker NISSOS SIFNOS retained buoyancy and is undergoing damage assessment.
- Pogрузка (loading) of oil at the terminal was suspended.
- The pipeline infrastructure of KTC continued operating in normal mode.
- The attacks occurred in the Black Sea, with MARATHI attacked 6 nautical miles from the terminal in territorial waters.
- This was not the first attack on the KTC terminal; previous incidents occurred in July.
Points of divergence
- KTC temporarily suspended pipeline operations on July 31, but continued receiving oil into storage tanks. — interfax
- KTC resumed oil transportation and loading on July 27 after previous suspension. — interfax
- Kazakhstan reduced oil production due to the pipeline suspension. — interfax
- KTC's oil throughput in 2025 was around 70.5 million tons, with over 75% from foreign shippers. — interfax
- KTC's projected throughput for 2026 is 72 million tons. — interfax
- This was the fifth attack on the KTC facility, which KTC claims is protected under international law. — fontanka
- KTC emphasized that previous attacks were conducted despite appeals from Kazakhstan and Western shareholders, including through the U.S. State Department. — fontanka
- The attack occurred on the night of June 30, not July 30. — kommerant
- Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated on July 28 that the Ukrainian regime has expanded its terrorist activities, citing attacks on Germany (Severnaya Potok) and Kazakhstan (KTC infrastructure). — vedomosti
- On July 29, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Ermek Kosherbayev discussed the KTC situation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. — vedomosti
Coverage (7 sources)
- KTK temporarily suspended oil pipeline operation but continues receiving oil into tanks — Интерфакс
- Беспилотники атаковали два танкера в Новороссийске. Погрузка нефти остановилась — Фонтанка
- Погрузка нефти на терминале КТК остановлена после атаки на танкеры в Черном море — Вести
- CTK stopped oil loading after attack on tankers in Novorossiysk — Коммерсантъ
- Caspian Pipeline Consortium suspended oil loading after nighttime attack on two tankers near its terminal... — ЭХО / Новости
- КТК остановил погрузку нефти после ударов по двум танкерам в Черном море — Ведомости
- КТК в четверг остановил отгрузки нефти на морском терминале из-за атаки БПЛА на танкер — Интерфакс
Key entities
- KTK
- Marshall Islands
- Novorossiysk
- Black Sea
- Moscow
- Caspian Pipeline Consortium
- INTERFAX.RU
- RBC
- Ministry of Energy
- Kazakhstan
- Turkey
- Dardanelles
- Chevron
- Man
- Asel Serikpaeva