Critical Incident
A Turkish-owned oil tanker, Altura, was attacked by a drone and an uncrewed boat in the early hours of Wednesday morning, approximately 14 nautical miles from the entrance to the Bosphorus Strait, according to Turkish press reports.
The vessel, which departed from the Russian port of Novorossiisk, was carrying around 140,000 tons of oil. Initial reports suggest that the tanker was hit by both an aerial drone and an uncrewed boat around 00:30 hours, resulting in damage to its upper deck and engine compartment. The crew transmitted a distress signal, prompting Turkish maritime authorities, including units from the General Directorate for Coastal Security, to respond.
Sanctioned Vessel
The incident is more significant than just a routine naval incident, as Altura has already been listed on international public registers as a sanctioned vessel associated with Russian oil exports outside normal commercial channels. According to publicly available data on maritime sanctions, the tanker is under sanctions imposed by the European Union and subsequently added to lists adopted by Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. British authorities have explicitly mentioned the vessel in the category of ships involved in transporting Russian oil to third-party states.
Vessel History
The identification of the vessel by IMO number is relevant, as such tankers frequently change their names, flags, and administrative structures. In this case, the current Altura has operated under other names, including Kayseri and Beșiktaș Dardanelles, in the fleet of Beșiktaș Maritime.
Suspicious Activity
The commercial history of the tanker raises questions about its ownership changes. In May 2024, the vessel was acquired by a Panamanian company, Kayseri Shipping S.A., only to be taken over by Turkish company Pergamon Denizcilik Isletmeleri A.S. from Istanbul in November 2025, when it was rechristened Altura.
This succession of changes is not unusual for the so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of oil tankers used to transport Russian or Iranian oil through opaque structures, shell companies, and changed flags and routes.
Iranian Connection
The most delicate aspect concerns connections surrounding its former owner. The Panamanian company Kayseri Shipping S.A. is linked to businessman Hector Varela De Leon, who was sanctioned by the United States in July 2025 for activities in Iran’s petroleum sector. Similarly, the US Treasury has described a vast maritime network controlled or influenced by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, a prominent figure in Iran’s security establishment. According to American authorities, this network operated dozens of companies and ships involved in transporting Iranian oil and, in some cases, Russian oil, using mechanisms designed to conceal real ownership and ultimate beneficiaries.
In other words, the connection with Iran does not result from a direct declaration by the current Turkish operator but rather from the vessel’s ownership history and sanctions imposed on individuals and companies that previously controlled it. This detail is essential, as it places the attack near the Bosphorus in a broader geopolitical context extending beyond mere navigation security in the Black Sea.
Original Article: Un petrolier a fost lovit de drone lângă Strâmtoarea Bosfor. Legăturile cu Rusia și Iran — Ct100 (Romanian) | View English Translation