On 5th January the Greek Coastguard announced that two crew members were killed when unidentified military aircraft bombed the 18,625gt/1991 built Greek-operated oil tanker Araevo whilst anchored at the Libyan port of Derna.

The Liberian-flagged ship was carrying 12,600 tonnes of crude oil and had 26 crew members on board. Two other crew members were wounded and Athens-based Aegean Shipping Enterprises Co., which operates the vessel, said no oil had spilled as a result of the attack. The vessel, chartered by Libya’s national oil company NOC, had been loaded at Brega port for transport to Derna.

The ship had been delivering fuel oil to power generators that supply the cities of Derna, Khoms, Benghazi and Misrata. Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognized government have been carrying out air strikes on targets controlled by a rival government set up by Libya Dawn forces that have taken over the capital Tripoli.