Mysterious Sinking of Russian-Linked Oil Tanker Off Senegal Coast
An oil tanker previously involved in transporting Russian crude has sunk off the coast of Senegal, raising further concerns about the safety of vessels operating within the shadow fleet of Russian oil exports.
According to Turkish maritime outlet Deniz Haber, the tanker M/T Mersin, owned by Turkey-based Beşiktaş Denizcilik, began sinking near Senegal in late November. The vessel had recently sailed from Russia’s Taman port and had remained idle off the West African coast for an extended period before the incident.
Vessel Details and Operations
Shipping data cited by Deniz Haber indicates that M/T Mersin regularly called at Russian ports—including Novorossiysk and Taman—as part of crude oil transport operations. The vessel, built in 2009 and sailing under the Panamanian flag, measures 183 meters in length, 32 meters in width, and has a carrying capacity of 50,000 tons of crude oil.
Incident Investigation
The exact cause of the sinking remains unclear. While Deniz Haber noted speculation on social media suggesting the possibility of a Ukrainian drone strike—due to the ship’s connections to Russian oil trade—the outlet also acknowledged that such a scenario is unlikely given the distance from Ukraine. Senegal lies approximately 9,000 to 10,000 kilometers by sea from Ukrainian territory.
No official investigation results have been released, and authorities have yet to issue a formal statement regarding potential environmental or navigational consequences.
Context: Russian Shadow Fleet Operations
Earlier, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) reportedly used Sea Baby maritime drones to disable two Russian shadow fleet tankers—Kairo and Virat—in the Black Sea. Both vessels were targeted on November 28–29 while en route to Novorossiysk and suffered significant damage. Turkish authorities later confirmed the second strike on Virat.
The incident highlights concerns about the safety and security of vessels operating within the Russian shadow fleet, which has been linked to various incidents and controversies in recent years.
Original Article: Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Mysteriously Sinks off Senegal — United24Media