Romania Rescues 11 Seafarers and 2 Deceased from Turkish Vessel

Turkish grain ship sinking after attack — Turkish grain ship sinking after being hit by two drones (ARSVOM)

Romanian officials are reporting a complex rescue operation in the Black Sea while also condemning the attacks on civilian ships. It reported that a total of 11 seafarers were saved on Monday from a Turkish vessel carrying grain that later sank and that it retrieved the bodies of two other crewmembers who died in the attack.

ARSVOM (the Romanian Agency for Rescue of Human Life at Sea) identified the vessel as the Turkish-owned cargo ship Royad Mammadov (6,933 dwt). Built in 2006 and registered in St. Kitts and Nevis, the ship had a crew of 13 aboard when it issued a distress call at 10:37 a.m. (Romanian time) on October 5. The crew were reported to be Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens.

Romanian authorities are emphasizing that the vessel was in their EEZ, approximately 20 miles offshore and near their offshore oil platforms. They are not reporting the circumstances of the attack, but Ukraine asserts the vessel was struck by two drones. ARSVOM’s pictures show scorch marks on one side of the deckhouse and the vessel listing at the stern.

(ARSVOM)

ARSVOM sent rescue vessels, and was joined by the deployment of military helicopters and the border police. The authorities reported that several injured crewmembers were hoisted to the helicopter for transfer to shore.

Ukrainian reports say the vessel had loaded a cargo of corn in Izmail and was bound for Italy when it was struck. They said the captain had been killed, and one other seafarer was missing, while three were injured. Romanian authorities later said the two deceased individuals had been identified without providing details.

“Romania supports an immediate moratorium on attacks against merchant ships and port infrastructure,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It emphasized that it has repeatedly raised the issue, including at the UN General Assembly. It highlighted that between 20 and 30 percent of globally traded wheat and grain transits through this corridor and that the ports manage 50 percent of global sunflower seed oil exports.

Turkey has also repeatedly attempted to broker a ceasefire for the attacks on commercial shipping. It has also protested the attacks on its citizens working on the ships.