Bulker That Survived Mariupol Siege Collides With Freighter In Kattegat Strait

A Bulgarian-managed bulk carrier, Tzarevna, has been involved in a collision with a Turkish freighter in the Kattegat Strait, situated between Sweden and Denmark.

The collision occurred late on the evening of December 5, when the Tzarevna was en route from Jutland, Denmark, to St. Petersburg, Russia, and collided with the 50,000 dwt Turkish freighter, Erdogan Bey.

Per the initial reports, there were no injuries or environmental pollution after the collision. Danish authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

The Tzarevna, which is operated by the Bulgarian shipping company Naviborn, sustained damage to its bow. While the operator told Bulgarian maritime news outlet maritime.bg that the damage was minimal, a spokesperson for the Danish Armed Forces confirmed that the vessel’s bow had been holed.

After the collision, the Tzarevna anchored off Aarhus, Denmark, while the Erdogan Bey moored near Skagen. Both vessels are expected to undergo inspections to assess the extent of the damage.

The Tzarevna’s involvement in this collision is significant, as it previously gained attention during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, the Tzarevna was trapped in Mariupol, a Ukrainian port city, when Russian forces took control of the region.

The vessel, along with its crew, was detained by Russian-backed separatists. During that time, reports emerged that the separatists had attempted to purchase the ship at an undervalued price.

The Tzarevna was released in November 2022, but not before the crew had to offload its 15,000-tonne cargo of Ukrainian steel.

The Erdogan Bey, which is managed by Densay Shipping from the United Arab Emirates, is a 50,000 dwt general cargo vessel. Both ships have clean inspection records, according to the Equasis database. Danish authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the collision.

Both companies involved have been contacted for further information.

Reference: Safety4Sea

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