Tanker Begins to Sink Near St. Petersburg After Explosions

An ammonia tanker began sinking at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region following multiple explosions, according to Russian Telegram channels.

The incident occurred during ammonia transfer operations when two explosions — ten minutes apart — were reported near the vessel’s engine room.

The blasts caused hull breaches, leading to flooding as seawater entered the vessel. The ship began listing to port and reportedly released ammonia into the water.

Russia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed the incident, describing it as a “minor leak of liquid ammonia.”

“On July 6, a minor leak of liquid ammonia occurred in the seaport of Ust-Luga (Leningrad Region) during loading and unloading operations aboard the tanker Eco Wizard,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that the Baltic branch of the Marine Rescue Service is prepared to conduct emergency and rescue work, and that a diving inspection of the vessel is scheduled.

The Eco Wizard is the sixth tanker to depart Russian ports in 2025 and be damaged by an explosion.

In late June, the oil tanker Vilamoura, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude, was disabled by an explosion off the Libyan coast.

The 158,000-deadweight-ton vessel reported an explosion and flooding of its engine room while transiting the central Mediterranean.

Earlier incidents involved the tankers:

• Seajewel (flagged Malta),
• Seacharm (flagged Marshall Islands),
• Grace Ferrum (flagged Liberia), and
• Kola (flagged Antigua and Barbuda).

Seajewel, Seacharm, and Grace Ferrum were all damaged by explosions in the Mediterranean within a single month.