An explosion occurred aboard an oil tanker carrying nearly a million crude barrels off the Libyan coast on June 27. The information was confirmed this Monday, June 30, 2025 by a spokesperson for the Greek company TMS Tankers, owner of the ship.
The oil tanker Vilamoura Beating Pavilion of the Marshall Islands, had left the Libyan port of Zuetina towards Gibraltar when the incident occurred, apparently in the machine room. According to the operator, the explosion did not cause any injuries and led to any visible marine pollution.
THE Vilamoura is currently being towed to Greece, where its arrival is scheduled for July 2.
The incident, however, arouses concerns in Tunisia, a neighboring country, where the potential environmental consequences are dreaded. Despite the TMS Tankers insurance on the absence of leak, the risks of a oil spill are not completely dismissed. Environmental authorities and NGOs follow the situation closely, given the vulnerability of marine ecosystems and the importance of fishing activities in the region.
