Explosion Causes Ammonia Leak On Russian Ust-Luga Tanker Amid Sixth Port Incident

An explosion occurred aboard the Eco Wizard tanker in Russia's Ust-Luga port during ammonia loading, causing a suspected ammonia leak and significant damage to the ship's hull, which led to the vessel beginning to sink. The tanker, flying the Marshall Islands flag and believed to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to circumvent sanctions, had arrived recently from Belgium. Emergency services evacuated the 23-person crew with no casualties reported and halted further loading operations while planning diving inspections to assess underwater damage. This incident marks the sixth explosion involving Russian-linked tankers this year, following a similar blast on the Vilamoura tanker, which carried one million barrels of oil and exploded off the coast of Libya after visiting Russian ports. Russian authorities are actively investigating the incident, and emergency response teams remain on site to manage the hazardous ammonia leak. The repeated explosions on vessels associated with Russia's shadow fleet highlight ongoing risks and potential vulnerabilities in the country's maritime logistics amid sanctions.