Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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The Greek tanker Vilamoura was damaged by a likely explosive device off Libya. TMS Tankers reports the crew is safe and the vessel is now in Greece.
ATHENS (Reuters) -An external explosive device most likely caused the blast that damaged Greek oil tanker Vilamoura as it was sailing off the Libyan coast last week, the vessel's Greece-based operator TMS Tankers said on Sunday, citing an initial investigation.
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar with some 1 million barrels of oil when there was an explosion in the engine room.
"Preliminary investigation findings clearly indicate that the explosion, the resulting fracture of the side shell plating, and the flooding of the engine room were caused by an external source —an unidentified explosive device," TMS Tankers said.
Maritime security sources told Reuters last week that a limpet mine may have caused the blast on Vilamoura, the fifth such incident to hit commercial shipping in the region in recent months.
Following the explosion and the flooding of its engine room the vessel lost manoeuvrability, although it was able to be towed towards Greece.
The vessel has now arrived safely at Laconikos Bay in Greece and its crew are in good health, the operator added in a statement.
(Reporting by Renee MaltezouEditing by Gareth Jones)
An external explosive device most likely caused the blast that damaged the Greek oil tanker Vilamoura.
The tanker Vilamoura was carrying approximately 1 million barrels of oil when the explosion happened.
The Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina and was heading to Gibraltar.
The crew of the Vilamoura is reported to be in good health following the incident.
The explosion caused flooding in the engine room, leading to a loss of maneuverability for the vessel.
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