Limpet mine attack suspected cause of StealthGas blast

TWO explosions that ripped through the engine room of a liquefied petroleum gas tanker owned by US-listed StealthGas on July 6 are thought to have been caused by timed explosive devices attached to the hull of the vessel.

The Marshall Islands-flagged 2024-built Eco Wizard (IMO: 9941568) suffered two separate explosions, roughly 10 minutes apart, during ammonia loading operations at the JSC EuroChem terminal in the port of Ust-Luga on Sunday.

The blasts f looded the engine room, causing a portside list in the vessel and a leak of liquid ammonia into the surrounding waters, but the leak was described by Russia’s ministry of transport as being “minor” and the vessel is not sinking.

All 23 crew members aboard the vessel were safely evacuated following the blasts and are currently ashore. There were no reported injuries.

While no official reports have been issued by the Russian ministry which has initiated an investigation into the incident, sources close to the operation of the vessel have told Lloyd’s List that a limpet mine attack is assumed to have been the cause of the explosions.

Russian divers were due to inspect the hull of the vessel on Monday and deliver a preliminary report into the incident.

A statement issued by the ministry on Monday confirmed the situation was under control, with environmental indicators remaining within safe limits. According to the report, rainy weather and a timely water curtain helped contain the leak and prevent atmospheric dispersion.

If the explosions are formally revealed to have been caused by limpet lines, Eco Wizard will become the sixth ship targeted so far this year.

On Sunday, George Economou’s TMS Tankers confirmed that the last suspected explosion, aboard Vilamoura (IMO: 9529293) off the coast of Libya on June 27, was a limpet attack.

While initial reports from the company had been inconclusive regarding the cause of the explosion, a statement issued by the company confirmed the ship had been damaged by “an external source — an unidentified explosive device”.

The blast left Vilamoura taking on water and unable to manoeuvre 90 nautical miles off the Libyan coast. It was carrying 1m barrels of crude oil it had just loaded from Zueitina Terminal, Libya just a few hours prior to the explosion.

While four of the limpet mine attacks have taken place in Mediterranean waters, the Eco Wizard attack is now the second to have taken place in Ust Luga. In February the Russia-owned shadow f leet suezmax tanker Koala (IMO: 9234642) suffered similar explosions at the Russian Baltic port.

The apparent targeting of Eco Wizard, however, appears to break with a previously assumed link to recent trading patterns. All five of the previous tankers targeted this year had passed through Malta’s outer port limits, and at least two had links to Libyan ports.

Eco Wizard has not passed through Malta’s OPL this year according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel tracking data.

Vilamoura had, however, recently called at Russian oil export terminals, including Ust-Luga and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk. This mirrors the voyage history of other affected vessels, leading analysts to speculate about a connection to Russian oil logistics.

Lloyd's List Daily Briefing 08 July 2025

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