The Turkish-owned cargo ship ATA 2 was heavily damaged by a Russian drone attack in the Black Sea and has reached Romania's Sulina Port.
The heavy damage sustained by the Turkish-owned bulk carrier ATA 2 following a Russian drone attack in the Black Sea has been revealed through emerging images.
After departing from Ukraine's Chornomorsk Port with a cargo of corn, the Panama-flagged ATA 2 was attacked by three drones and arrived at Romania's Sulina Port with significant damage.
Images taken after the attack highlight the extent of the damage, particularly in the living quarters and superstructure. Structural deformations and fragmentation are visible in the areas of the ship that were subjected to the attack, and it has been reported that the attack also had significant effects on the ship's operational systems.
A frame from the footage published by Turkey Today clearly shows the impact of the attack on ATA 2. It was noted that the image was taken from a video released by The Maritime Voice.
It has been reported that a large hole formed on the upper deck of the 6,555 DWT capacity ATA 2, which was built in 2006, and that the living quarters and the bridge also suffered heavy damage. Following the attack, the ship was able to navigate only in a limited manner using a backup manual control system.
It was stated that all 13 crew members survived the attack. It was reported that 12 of the crew members are citizens of Azerbaijan, while one is a citizen of Turkey.
After the attack, the ship reached Romania's Sulina Port. According to information from the crew, it is planned for the ship to be brought to Istanbul for repairs afterward.
The attack on ATA 2 has raised new concerns regarding the safety of commercial vessels servicing Ukrainian ports. Maritime sources consider the attack to be part of a series of recent assaults on commercial ships departing from Ukrainian ports.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that during the same period, attacks were carried out on several bulk carriers around Odesa, alleging that these vessels were carrying military cargo. However, it has not been independently verified whether ATA 2 was one of these targets or the validity of Russia's claims.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
