Turkey officials denied a report that a Turkish-flagged general cargo ship Kafkametler hit a sea mine off the Romanian coast on Thursday.
According to the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for Turkey, the ship sustained no damages and the crew were safe without injuries.
“The explosion in question did not occur on the ship and there was no evidence of a mine explosion,” the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs wrote in an online statement.
The Turkish authorities said – after confirming that there was no damage – the Kafkametler had proceeded to Izmail. They also denied the media reports saying that there was no contact with a mine.
After the incident the authorities contacted the Turkish vessel and the operating company.
The 31-year-old cargo ship in question was a dwt vessel registered in Turkey. On Thursday, various media reports said the Kafkametler hit a mine in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage.
The authorities reported it was sailing from Batumi to Izmail, and are contending that an explosion occurred 15 to 20 meters behind the vessel.
“An explosion occurred 15-20 meters behind the Kafkametler ship en route to Izmail port from Batumi port while it was cruising off the coast of Romania/Sulina,” the authority said.
The incident comes at a sensitive time as UK officials warned that Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, in order to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
Intelligence suggests that Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports.
The UK assesses that Russia would lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks.
It previously warned that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea.
According to the UK’s assessment, Russia aims to target civilian shipping travelling through Ukraine’s ‘humanitarian corridor’ in order to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
