Ukraine has agreed to halt attacks on non-Russian tankers exporting Kazakh crude, following US intervention and after weeks of mounting concerns. The agreement covers vessels calling at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk provided they are not sanctioned by Ukraine, do not carry Russian cargoes, and are not owned by Russia.
Background and Impact
The CPC pipeline carries approximately 2% of global oil supply, handling crude from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields. The recent attacks have caused interruptions to loadings and heightened concerns among shipowners about the safety of their vessels operating in the region.
According to TradeWinds, Ukrainian drones targeted tankers around Novorossiysk, forcing ship operators to be increasingly cautious when fixing ships for CPC cargoes. The agreement includes establishing contact points allowing commercial operators to exchange information and arrange safer passage to and from the terminal.
Ukraine has escalated attacks on Russia-linked shipping this summer, claiming hundreds of strikes against vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Despite these aggressive actions, Kazakhstan is considering alternatives such as greater rail exports through Georgia, but none can match CPC’s scale.
Seafarers' Safety
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has condemned the latest attack on vessels operating in the Black Sea, warning that seafarers must never be treated as targets in conflict. The ITF stressed that the civilian crews onboard are not participants in conflict and their safety and rights must be protected.
A recent incident involved a tanker transiting Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone en route to Novorossiysk, struck by Ukrainian sea drones, reportedly the third such attack involving vessels part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.”