Ships entering Russian ports were mined by divers

Divers using underwater vehicles have been laying mines on ships entering Russian ports, experts say.

The ships were likely attacked by sabotage groups using time-delayed mines, TradeWinds reports.

A series of explosions on five ships entering Russian ports was most likely linked to divers laying time-detonated mines, Ambrey, a leading global maritime risk management firm, said.

The divers were brought to the ships in small underwater vehicles, the company said. The mines were likely laid when the ships slowed or stopped before or after entering ports.

Four oil tankers and one cargo ship were damaged in attacks that “Ambrey” said targeted vessels calling at oil ports including Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga, starting in December 2024.

The attacks are believed to be sabotage operations. Ambrey said the nature of the damage was consistent with the impact of sea mines that were programmed to explode days or weeks after they were laid.

The initial placement of the explosive devices was believed to have taken place at several locations in both the Black Sea and the Baltic region.

Among the ships attacked was the “Thenamaris”-operated oil tanker Seacharm, which was damaged off the Turkish port of Ceyhan in the Mediterranean in late January.

Another “Thenamaris” vessel, the tanker “Seajewel”, was targeted in February when explosive devices detonated off Savona, Italy.

Also in February, the “Grace Ferrum” (Liberian flag) was damaged off the coast of Libya, and the Russian tanker Koala was attacked in Ust-Luga and partially sank.

In addition, the Russian bulk carrier “Ursa Major” sank in the Mediterranean Sea after explosions near the stern.

Ambrey reported that an inspection of the ships’ hulls confirmed the use of sea mines.

Russian port authorities have begun checking the hulls of ships arriving at its ports, however, according to Ambrey, it is most likely that mines are laid in the Black Sea after the ships leave the ports.

As a reminder, it was previously known that three tankers associated with the Russian Federation were damaged in the Mediterranean Sea in a month. Later, the Thenamaris company commented on the explosions on its tankers.

Later, information appeared that magnetic mines could have exploded on tankers in the Mediterranean Sea.