Turkish Tanker Owner Withdraws From Russian Operations Following Mysterious Blasts

Turkish tanker owner Besiktas Shipping has announced it is halting all operations linked to Russia after one of its vessels was struck by four external explosions while anchored off Senegal last week.

The incident occurred on 27 November, when the oil tanker Mersin was at anchor near Dakar. The blasts caused seawater to enter the engine room, though the reason behind the explosions has not yet been identified.

In a statement, the Istanbul-based company said it was ending all Russia-related voyages “immediately”. It reported that it had remained fully compliant with international sanctions throughout its operations, including the G7/EU Price Cap mechanism and other trade restrictions.

According to Besiktas Shipping, internal assessments suggested that the threat level to its ships and crew had increased significantly, making further operations involving Russia too dangerous.

The company added that the safety of its personnel and vessels was its top priority, prompting the decision to discontinue such operations.

The blasts took place a day before Ukrainian naval drones struck two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea, near Turkey’s coast, as they sailed towards a Russian port to load oil. A Ukrainian official confirmed the strikes, saying they targeted vessels linked to Russian trade.

On Tuesday, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil also reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast. While Ukraine denied any involvement, a Turkish official said that Ankara had communicated “necessary messages” to all relevant parties, including Ukrainian authorities.

Besiktas Shipping is one of Turkey’s largest tanker owners, operating a fleet of 29 vessels.

Reference: Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News