Explosion Leaves Crude Tanker Vilamoura Adrift off Libya

The crude oil tanker Vilamoura, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, experienced a serious onboard explosion about 80 nautical miles off the Libyan coast on June 27.

The explosion, which originated in the engine room, caused significant flooding and left the tanker adrift at sea. At the time of the incident, the vessel was transporting one million barrels of crude oil from the Port of Zueitina in Libya to Gibraltar, Spain.

Assistance arrived the following day, June 28, when the fire-fighting tug Boka Summit reached the Vilamoura at approximately 09:17 UTC. The two ships are now traveling together through the Eastern Mediterranean at reduced speed.