Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 15, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGreece warns its shipping fleet of increased risks in the Black Sea after drone attacks on tankers, urging heightened security measures.
By Renee Maltezou, Yannis Souliotis and Jonathan Saul
ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Greece has warned its shipping fleet to upgrade security measures to the highest possible when sailing to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks on two Greek-operated tankers this week, according to shipping ministry advisories.
Drones struck two oil tankers on Tuesday, including one chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron, as they sailed towards the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) on Russia's Black Sea coast.
Greek-operated ships are among the world's largest fleets of tankers and are pivotal for trade across the Black Sea region, whose waters are shared by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey, as well as warring Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow invaded in February 2022.
"It is recommended that all Greek ships that are either docked or anchored or are about to dock at the terminal in question take the highest possible security measures. These measures include avoiding being outside the ship," the shipping ministry said in a document released on Thursday and seen by Reuters.
In earlier documents released this week, after the attacks, the ministry recommended that the security managers of shipping companies and Greek ships proceed with an updated threat assessment for vessels located in the Black Sea and the maritime areas close to it.
War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea have jumped this week, reflecting the worsening risk environment.
One of the tankers targeted on Tuesday, Matilda, was managed by Greece's Thenamaris and hit by two drones.
While there were no injuries or serious damage to the vessel, a Thenamaris official said the company had since stepped up additional precautionary security measures and advised crew on their vessels to increase vigilance and avoid unnecessary exposure, mainly movement on the deck.
In its previous advisories, the ministry also referred shipping companies to a document it published in April 2022 that recommended additional protective security measures be maintained for a certain period as a result of increased risk for the Russian Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk, Taman, Tuapse and Kavkaz.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Yannis Souliotis and Jonathan Saul, Editing by Mark Heinrich and Timothy Heritage)
War insurance is a type of coverage that protects ships and cargo against losses due to war-related events, including acts of terrorism, piracy, and military actions.
A shipping fleet refers to a group of ships operated by a single company or organization, used for transporting goods and materials across waterways.
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organization's capital and earnings, including risks from financial uncertainties, legal liabilities, and strategic management.
Precautionary measures are actions taken to prevent potential risks or harm, often involving safety protocols and risk assessments to mitigate threats.
A threat assessment is an evaluation process that identifies potential risks and vulnerabilities to an organization, helping to inform security measures and response strategies.
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