Turkish Authorities Continue Firefighting Operations on Sanctioned Tankers in Black Sea
Turkish maritime authorities continue to work on extinguishing fires and stabilizing two sanctioned tankers struck by Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the fire aboard the 274-meter tanker Kairos has been completely put out, with discussions underway regarding towing arrangements. All 25 crew members were safely evacuated by Turkish coastal safety units.
The firefighting efforts continued through the night after the open deck fire was extinguished. According to the ministry, cooling efforts in enclosed areas are ongoing. The Virat, another vessel struck approximately 35 nautical miles offshore, sustained heavy smoke in its engine room but maintained a stable condition despite a second drone attack on Saturday morning that caused minor damage above the waterline. All 20 crew members remained in good condition throughout the ordeal.
Shadow Fleet Crisis Deepens: Third Tanker Incident off Senegal Follows Black Sea Drone Strikes
In a separate development, the Panama-flagged tanker Mersin is experiencing a crisis off Senegal’s coast. The vessel, owned by Turkish firm Be?ikta? Denizcilik and carrying up to 30,000 tons of fuel, reported water entering its engine room during the night of November 27-28.
The tanker M/T Mersin, frequently seen in Russian ports like Novorossiysk and Taman, is now sinking off the coast of Senegal. The vessel had been heading to Africa but has remained stationary for nearly a week. Another ‘mysterious’ incident involving Russia-linked shipping.
Senegalese authorities immediately activated a crisis cell under HASSMAR supervision, coordinating with the Senegalese Navy, National Maritime Affairs Agency, and Port Authority of Dakar. All crew members were rescued safely with no casualties reported.
International Sanctions and Safety Concerns
The Kairos faces sanctions from the UK and EU, while the Virat has been sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for transporting Russian oil. The Mersin’s incident highlights broader safety concerns with shadow fleet operations. Maritime intelligence analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann of Windward AI noted that the Kairos was among 72 vessels recently deleted from the Gambian ship registry for fraudulently issued certificates.
“The dark fleet is an accident waiting to happen, and incidents like this will continue to occur until there’s a concerted effort to address these issues,” Bockmann stated.
Original Article: Shadow Fleet Crisis Deepens: Third Tanker Incident off Senegal Follows Black Sea Drone Strikes — Gcaptain