Italy Launches Counter-Terrorism Investigation Into Tanker Explosion
Italian authorities have launched a counter-terrorism investigation into the explosion of an oil tanker off the northern coast of Italy last weekend.
The Greek tanker Sea Joel was anchored near the port of Savona Vado when the explosion occurred. It is the latest in a series of similar attacks on ships in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas over the past month.
Genoa prosecutor Nicola Piacenti said the investigation is part of the prosecutor’s office’s counter-terrorism unit and focuses on “a maritime incident exacerbated by terrorist intent.”
While the ship itself has not been seized, the ship’s black box has been taken for analysis.
The Seajewel suffered two explosions during the discharge of oil, causing damage below the waterline. The tanker’s operator Thinamaris said routine shipping operations were stopped on February 15, 2025, but confirmed that all crew members and third parties involved in the operations were safe.
The company also confirmed that no environmental damage was caused and the ship could still resume operations.
The cause of the explosion is unclear, but security officials and naval sources monitoring the situation believe a mine may have been used, although this remains to be confirmed.
Damage to the station appears to have been caused by an external impact rather than an internal failure, one person familiar with the matter said.
In addition to the Sea Joel, three other tankers have also been damaged by explosions in recent weeks. The affected tankers are the Koala, the Seacharm and the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major.
Ship tracking data shows that all the affected tankers recently arrived in Russian ports.
The Sea Charm, also operated by Thenamaris, was damaged in January and is still under investigation by Greek authorities. The Koala remains stranded in the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea.
In December last year, the Russian cargo ship Orsa Major sank in the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain due to an explosion in the engine room, leaving two crew members missing.
Authorities warn of growing threats to maritime security. Members of the Italian opposition Five Star Movement characterized the Sea Joel incident as an act of terrorism and demanded that a full report be submitted to parliament once the investigation is completed.
Authorities in Savona and Genoa are still studying all possibilities but have confirmed that there is no risk of an oil spill. The ship, named Sea Joel, flies the Maltese flag and mainly sails in the Mediterranean, having recently stopped in Algeria, Greece, Türkiye and France before arriving in Italy.
