Two vessels damaged in separate attacks in the Black Sea have run aground on Turkey’s coast, adding to growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
Vessel name : Golden Sapling
Built : 1999
Flag: Hong Kong
Vessel Type : Oil chemical Tanker
Lenght : 147,83 mtr
Beam : 24,20 mtr
Deadweight : 19455 tonnes
On August 30, the product tanker Golden Sapling ran aground near Alacam in Samsun Province, Turkey, after drifting without a crew for four days.
The Hong Kong-flagged, Chinese-owned tanker was reportedly struck by a drone on August 26, approximately 90 nautical miles off Sinop, in the Black Sea. The attack caused severe damage to the vessel’s bridge and deckhouse, with fire badly affecting the upper part of the ship.
All 21 crew members were evacuated after the incident. According to reports, the crew was rescued by the Greek-flagged tanker Maran Pythia, leaving Golden Sapling abandoned at sea.
Without a crew onboard, the damaged tanker continued drifting for several days before eventually reaching the Turkish coastline.
Second Damaged Vessel Runs Aground Near Istanbul
Vessel name : Omskiy 107
Built : 1981
Flag: Russia
Vessel Type : General Cargo
Lenght : 108,40 mtr
Beam : 15 mtr
Deadweight : 3248 tonnes
Only hours after the Golden Sapling incident, another damaged vessel was reported aground on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.
The Russian-flagged cargo ship Omskiy 107 ran aground at Alacali Beach in the Şile district of Istanbul. The vessel had also been abandoned by its crew following an earlier attack.
The 108-metre cargo ship, built in Romania in 1981 and operated by Moscow-based Avomar Shipping, had reportedly been drifting across the Black Sea for almost four weeks.
Omskiy 107 was attacked near Novorossiysk in early August. Images from the vessel after reaching the Turkish coast show extensive fire damage around the bridge and accommodation area.
The ship’s prolonged drift highlights the risks created when damaged commercial vessels are left without propulsion or crew in one of the world’s busiest maritime regions.
Turkey Protests Black Sea Shipping Attacks
Following the incidents, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to protest the attacks involving commercial vessels in the Black Sea.
The latest incidents have also raised concerns among shipping companies operating in the region, particularly as attacks on merchant vessels continue to affect commercial maritime traffic.
According to authorities, MSC has suspended its Novorossiysk container service, reflecting the growing security concerns surrounding Black Sea operations.
Growing Risks for Merchant Ships in the Black Sea
The grounding of Golden Sapling and Omskiy 107 demonstrates how an attack on a merchant ship can create risks long after the initial strike.
A vessel that loses propulsion, suffers major fire damage, or has to evacuate its crew can become a drifting hazard. If the ship is not quickly secured or towed, currents and weather can eventually push it toward coastal areas.
For seafarers and shipping companies, the situation remains a serious reminder that the risks associated with the Black Sea conflict extend beyond the immediate attack zone.
As attacks on commercial vessels continue, shipowners and operators may face increasing pressure to reconsider routes, security measures and port calls in the region.
