Two Cargo Ships grounded by storm at Turkish Black Sea Coast

Photo: General Cargo FR PEARL

Two general cargo ships were grounded by severe storm which ravaged Black Sea on November 26 and 27, at Turkish Black Sea coast ports of Inebolu and Hopa.

General Cargo FR PEARL Palau-flagged was beached by storm after dragging anchor at Hopa, Turkey, Black Sea coast. All 13 crew, six of whom are Turkish citizens, were successfully evacuated, all are safe.

The Cameroon-flagged general cargo ship Vamos, built in 1991 (32 years ago), run aground around 05.15 yesterday behind the breakwater of Inebolu Port, Turkey, Black Sea after dragging the anchor due to the storm, in accordance with the latest information given by the authorities of Türkiye.

All 11 crew on the ship, two of whom were Turkish, were rescued, and all are safe.

The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of Türkiye also revealed yesterday that the Liberian-flagged chemicals/products tanker, Central Park, which could not be contacted in the Gulf of Aden, was rescued after being detained for 15 hours. It is reported that all crew members are safe.

“The company and Turkish crew of the Liberian-flagged Central Park tanker was contacted,” the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of Türkiye noted in a post.

The tanker was threatened offshore Hodeida, Yemen on November 25. The vessel’s group owner and manager were listed as Zodiac Maritime, a UK-based Israeli-affiliated company.

The vessel was transiting southbound through the southern Red Sea at the time and was instructed by Ansar Allah (“the Houthis”) to head for Hodeida, where the Houthis are holding the seized Israeli-affiliated Galaxy Leader.

“If they did not divert to Hodeida, the Houthis threatened to “attack” the vessel,” maritime security company Ambrey said in its threat update circular.

The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Thomas Hudner, advised the tanker to ignore the Houthis instructions and to continue its voyage southbound. The tanker was subsequently boarded by five suspects southwest of Aden, Yemen.

The assailants departed after naval intervention by the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Mason, and other international maritime and aerial assets. The crew was able to retreat to the citadel, remaining safe, and it appeared the suspects were unable to take full control of the tanker.

After disembarking the vessel, the five suspects were detained by the US Navy.

Shortly after, the US Central Command reported that the tanker and destroyer were targeted by two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis in Yemen. The US Navy stated the missiles fell short and did not impede the two vessels.