Two Drone-Damaged Vessels Run Aground Off Istanbul Amid Severe Weather

Two vessels previously damaged in drone attacks have run aground off Istanbul after severe weather in the Black Sea, prompting Turkish authorities to launch response and salvage operations.

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker BANDA ran aground near Kısırkaya in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district. The Liberia-flagged GRACE ROMAVICTOR went aground near Çilingöz Nature Park in the Çatalca district after its towline broke in strong winds and heavy seas.

Six Turkish personnel were aboard BANDA, but Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure said they were not in danger.

GRACE ROMAVICTOR reportedly had no crew on board. Initial checks found no signs of fuel leakage or marine pollution from the latter vessel.

The 105,576-deadweight-tonne crude oil tanker BANDA ran aground after drifting towards the Turkish coast in bad weather.

The vessel had been damaged in a drone attack on July 14 while sailing without cargo towards Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The attack took place about 70 nautical miles southwest of the port.

The tanker was hit in its aft section, near the engine room. The attack reportedly caused an explosion and fire in the engine room and accommodation area. Water later flooded the engine room to sea level, leaving the vessel without power.

A salvage operation began after the attack and lasted about five weeks. Salvage teams boarded and inspected the tanker, supplied salvage and anti-pollution equipment, provided a portable generator and carried out repairs in the accommodation block.

Towing began on July 17. The vessel was brought to the Istanbul area in the second half of August, when the salvage operation was completed.

After BANDA ran aground, Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure said the six Turkish personnel aboard were safe and that the situation was being monitored.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety sent its emergency response vessel Nene Hatun to the area as a precaution. Authorities continued to monitor the tanker.

GRACE ROMAVICTOR ran aground near Çilingöz Nature Park in Istanbul’s Çatalca district after its towline broke in strong winds and heavy seas.

The vessel had also previously been damaged in a drone attack in the Novorossiysk area. It left under tow on October 12, heading for İğneada Port, with the Cameroon-flagged tug ATHLETIC assisting it.

As the vessels approached the waters off Çatalca, bad weather caused the towline to break. GRACE ROMAVICTOR then drifted towards the coast.

The tug’s master contacted Vessel Traffic Services and reported plans to seek shelter at İğneada Port.

Turkish Coast Guard teams were sent to the area after a report at 13:33 local time. Initial checks found no signs of fuel leakage or marine pollution.

The Istanbul Regional Port Authority then began operations to refloat the vessel and remove it from the area. GRACE ROMAVICTOR reportedly had no crew on board when it ran aground.

The two groundings follow several reported drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea during October.

On October 6, attacks off Bulgaria damaged the cargo vessel ABLE and sank ALFA WATAN. On October 13, further strikes hit HS Dignity and Chelsea-3, leaving crew members missing, according to the supplied reports.

Two tankers, Wine Trader and Yara J, were struck by drones near Romania on October 15. Seven crew members were reported missing from Wine Trader.

References: usm, safety4sea