Greek Tanker Maran Homer Struck at CPC Anchorage, Novorossiysk, Black Sea

The Greek-owned tanker Maran Homer was struck by an unknown object at 0435 local time Saturday while awaiting loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) single-point mooring terminal off Novorossiysk, Russia, according to Greece's shipping ministry and operator Maran Tankers Management.

The vessel sustained minor damage to the deck and deck equipment. Maran Homer was in ballast at the time of the strike. No pollution was reported. The vessel departed the scene under its own power following the attack.

Maran Homer is a crude oil tanker registered under Greek ownership. The CPC terminal is located in deep water outside Novorossiysk's inner harbor, in international waters of the Black Sea. The vessel was positioned awaiting instructions to load Kazakh-origin crude piped overland through Russia from the Tengiz field. No crew injuries were reported.

The CPC terminal is geographically and commercially distinct from the Sheskharis terminal inside Novorossiysk harbor, which exclusively handles Russian-origin crude and has been the target of repeated Ukrainian drone strikes. Ukraine has previously attacked the CPC pipeline, its loading terminal, and associated tanker traffic, drawing objections from the U.S. government. Chevron and ExxonMobil together hold a 75 percent ownership stake in Kazakhstan's Tengiz field, the primary source of CPC throughput. Russian midstream operator Transneft holds the pipeline's largest shareholding and earns transit revenue on Kazakh barrels.

Prior to the incident, Maran Homer had been at anchorage in the outer roadstead pending berth assignment. No AIS anomalies have been publicly reported.

Ukraine has not claimed responsibility. Greek maritime authorities and the vessel operator are conducting assessments; no independent investigation authority has been confirmed.