Italy’s IRINI mission report on the sinking of the Toa Payoh tanker

• According to the IRINI mission, the Italian side believes that the sinking of the Toa Payoh tanker was due to the actions of the “shadow fleet” off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.
• In its report, the Italian side says that the tanker Toa Payoh was hit by an “underwater drone” while sailing through the Mediterranean Sea on the way from Benin to Stamboul.
• The investigation established that two people were killed as a result of the attack; documents have been seized.

According to Ukrinform, Asharq Al-Awsat.

The IRINI mission, which is being carried out by Italy, reports that, according to the Italian side’s assessment, the use of a foreign underwater drone in the Mediterranean Sea was linked to the “shadow fleet” of Russia. The investigation was carried out on the basis of information provided by Italian military personnel.

According to the Ministry of Defence of Italy, the tanker Toa Payoh was hit by an underwater drone at around the time the ship was passing through the Mediterranean Sea, heading from Italy’s coast toward the port of Stamboul. The investigation found that the ship’s crew did not have any information about the attack.

It is also stated that the captain did not receive any information about the incident at the time it occurred. The Italian group of military observers under ITS Thaon di Revel — the flag mission of IRINI — identified that the attack had been carried out by a drone.

The report says that the attack killed two people, and that the Italian side’s investigation concluded that the attack was carried out without any warning. It is also noted that the investigation found that the attack was carried out by a Greek military vessel.

The Italian Ministry of Defence says that, according to the Italian side, the use of a drone was carried out in international waters, in accordance with Article 110 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows a warship to board a ship in international waters under certain conditions.

The investigation also states that information and documents will be provided to the relevant authorities.

Tags: Russia/Europe/Middle East/Politics/Energy