Turkey’s Maritime Director Reports Explosions on Two Sanctioned Tankers

Turkey is mounting a rescue mission after reporting explosions and a fire on one or possibly two tankers in the Black Sea. Details remain sketchy with Turkey’s General Directorate of Maritime Affairs reporting the first explosion aboard a tanker named Kairos (149,989 dwt) and 30 minutes later reporting a second tanker named Virat (115,643 dwt) in a different position in the Black Sea reported being “hit.” 

The common factor is that both vessels are sanctioned tankers, with one believed to be heading to Russia’s Novorossiysk port to load another cargo. The second tanker cited in the reports was holding in the Black Sea “for orders.” Both vessels cited are Chinese-owned owned and their last known flags were Gambia.

The Kairos, according to the reports, notified the Turkish authorities of an “external impact” causing an explosion and fire. The media is widely reporting that the vessel likely hit a mine in the Black Sea and that the explosion occurred in the engine room. The ship has 25 crewmembers aboard, with some reports suggesting there are injuries.

The tanker was reported to be approximately 28 nautical miles north of the Turkish coast and approximately 52 miles from the Bosphorus. An evacuation was reported to be underway with 12 tugs as well as vessels from the Turkish Coast Guard heading for the stricken tanker.

The tanker was built in 2002 and, in the past, has been cited for its runs between Russia and India. The European Union sanctioned the ship in May 2025 while it was operating under the name Katiuska, and the UK followed, listing the vessel in July 2025. Equasis lists the vessel as sold in August to a Chinese company, Alafia Trading. The flag of the vessel was last reported as Gambia, but is now listed as unknown.

Half an hour later, the Ministry posted its second report naming the tanker Virat, another sanctioned tanker, saying it was “hit” approximately 35 nautical miles offshore in the Black Sea. Rescue units and a commercial vessel have been dispatched to the scene, with the Ministry saying heavy smoke has been detected in the engine room. It said there were 20 crewmembers aboard and they were in good condition.

Like the first tanker in the reports, the Virat is also listed with an unknown flag after previously reporting Gambia. Built in 2018, the ship is reported as also having been sold to a Chinese company in January 2025. The United States sanctioned the vessel in January 2025 for transporting Russian oil, and the EU followed with a listing in July and the UK in September 2025.