1 Killed, 3 Injured After Drone Attack On Turkish Cargo Ship In Black Sea

A Turkish-flagged cargo ship carrying coal from Russia to Türkiye was hit by a drone in the Black Sea, killing one crew member and injuring three others, according to the ship’s owner and Turkish media reports.

The MV Reyhan Sari was sailing from Russia’s Port of Taman to Trabzon when it came under attack on July 22, ship owner T and O Maritime said.

Although the vessel was damaged, it remained seaworthy and continued its voyage, reaching the Turkish port of Samsun.

According to Turkish newspaper Oksijen, the attack took place in international waters off Türkiye’s Samsun province. Other Turkish media reports said the vessel was attacked off the coast of Novorossiysk.

T and O Maritime said the drone strike damaged one of its commercial vessels and knocked out its communication systems, making it difficult to stay in contact with the ship after the incident.

“One of our company’s commercial vessels was damaged in a drone attack. Despite the damage, it continued its voyage and reached the port of Samsun. The attack disabled the dry cargo ship’s communication systems, complicating efforts to maintain contact with the vessel after the incident,” the company said in a statement.

The company said two injured crew members were airlifted by helicopter to medical facilities in Samsun after permission was granted by the relevant government authorities.

It also said one crew member was initially unreachable because access to the crew cabin was blocked following the attack.

Turkish media later reported that one Turkish crew member working in the engine room was killed in the attack, while three others were injured. The injured received first aid before being taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The MV Reyhan Sari, registered in Istanbul under IMO number 9543342, was carrying a cargo of coal loaded at Russia’s Port of Taman for Trabzon.

Per reports, the drone strike caused material damage to the vessel but did not affect its ability to continue sailing. The ship later arrived safely at Samsun.

Technical investigations and security operations are continuing in the area. Turkish media said official statements on the incident and the condition of the injured crew members are expected from the relevant authorities.

The attack follows another reported drone-related incident involving commercial shipping in the Black Sea earlier this month.

On July 15, the LPG tanker GAS NERO, which had transported two injured Filipino crew members evacuated from the drone-hit GAS AURA near Kavkaz, requested assistance after a fire broke out in its bow tank during a reported drone attack while sailing in the Black Sea. The injured seafarers had been transferred to a Coast Guard helicopter off the coast of Sinop on July 16.

References: tass, nampa