Explosions occurred on an oil tanker in Italy, which was possibly transporting Russian oil.

On the night of February 15, two explosions occurred in northern Italy, after which damage was discovered on the oil tanker SeaJewel. The vessel is currently anchored near the coast of Savona.

According to RBK-Ukraine, this information is reported by IVG.

Media sources indicate that the ship has a breach below the waterline; however, no oil leak has been recorded. The publication states that an ecological disaster was averted due to metal sheets in the safety chamber, which prevented oil from spilling into the sea.

Preliminary reports suggest that no one was injured as a result of the explosion, and the ship is not at risk of sinking. However, the crew claims that two loud bangs were heard before the explosions.

During the inspection, two inwardly bent plates of the hull were found on the vessel. Journalists believe this could indicate the presence of two devices located on the outer side of the hull.

At the scene of the incident, the Savona Coast Guard is inspecting the area alongside divers. Investigators are currently withholding any additional information.

The port administration released a statement reconstructing the incident as follows: "During the unloading of crude oil, specialized personnel monitoring these operations noticed some anomalies in the unloading procedure and decided, in coordination with this port office, to halt operations as a precaution. The port captain's office immediately implemented procedures outlined in the port's pollution and fire-fighting plans. No spills or personnel injuries were reported. Technical investigations are currently underway on board to determine the origin of these anomalies and rectify them so that operations can continue safely."

The Savona prosecutor's office has opened a case regarding the incident and is considering all possible scenarios, including a terrorist act. The Genoa prosecutor's office and the anti-mafia and terrorism unit have joined the investigation. The publication IVG reports that there are three facts supporting the explosion theory: the breach below the waterline, the nature of the damage with inwardly bent plates, and the death of fish in the area of the incident.

SeaJewel, measuring 245 meters in length and 42 meters in width, was built in 2009 and currently sails under the Maltese flag. It arrived on Friday, February 14, from Algeria. In the media, the tanker is mentioned among vessels that continue to transport Russian oil to the European Union despite sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.

"Russia's Shadow Fleet"

It is worth noting that after the EU and US imposed sanctions on the energy sector, Russia created a so-called "shadow fleet." This fleet primarily consists of older tankers that transport oil to other countries, circumventing sanctions.

The European Union has already imposed restrictions on the "shadow fleet" tankers of the Russian Federation in its 15th sanctions package.

According to media reports, in the new package, the EU will continue to impose sanctions against Russian tankers.