Drone attack forces Russia-bound tanker to divert in Black Sea

The Black Sea is crucial for grain, oil and oil products shipping, and its waters are shared by Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania. The vessel was headed on Wednesday to the Russian port of Novorossiysk from Singapore, the Lloyd's notice said.

Marinetraffic data showed the Elbus had settled a few kilometres off the northern Turkish port of Inebolu on Thursday. It had diverted from its earlier eastward course across the Black Sea.

It dropped anchor at Inebolu anchorage under its own power, Lloyd's said. Calls to the Inebolu harbour master did not get through.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Jonathan Saul in London; Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Alex Richardson and Alison Williams)