A fire on the Aroyat vessel near Novorossiysk injured a Turkish engineer, Erkan Nika, who remains missing after the attack attributed to Ukrainian forces.
A fire broke out on the Aroyat vessel, which was reported to have been attacked near Novorossiysk. The family of the missing second engineer, Erkan Nika, has made a call for help in locating the seafarer.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are accused of carrying out an attack on a bulk carrier owned by a Turkish company, which resulted in the disappearance of a sailor.
The Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat, operated by Turkish companies, was reported to have been attacked in the Black Sea on September 27, 2026. There has been no news of Erkan Nika, who served as the second engineer on the vessel, since the attack.
The Maritime Executive reported that the incident occurred near Russia's Novorossiysk Port, while noting that the claim of the attack being carried out by Ukrainian forces has not been confirmed by an official statement.
Fire Spread to Living Quarters
It has been reported that an object, believed to be an unmanned aerial vehicle, struck the Aroyat, which has a deadweight tonnage of 18,315. Following the attack, a fire broke out in the stern section and living quarters of the ship, causing significant damage to the superstructure.
According to the incident report from VesselTracker dated September 29, the vessel was targeted by three drones, and an Egyptian sailor sustained burn injuries. No official confirmation has been obtained regarding these details. The crew reportedly consists of 16 members, including seven Egyptians, six Syrians, and three Turks.
“Not Among the Rescued Crew”
Erkan Nika's brother, Erizon Nika, stated in a social media post that his brother was not among the rescued crew and that they have not received any information about his health status.
The family has also considered the possibility that Erkan Nika could be located somewhere in Russia and has made a call for help to individuals connected with port authorities, coast guard units, hospitals, and rescue teams in Novorossiysk. They have requested anyone who has seen the seafarer or has information about the rescued crew to contact the family.
Expected to be Brought to Istanbul for Search
According to a family statement reported by some news sources, it is planned for the Aroyat to be towed to Istanbul, where a comprehensive search of the vessel will be conducted upon its arrival.
The family expects that all sections of the ship will be meticulously checked and that priority will be given to the search for Erkan Nika. No verified information has yet been obtained regarding whether the ship has reached Istanbul or where it has docked.
Conflicting Reports on Casualties
While some publications suggest that there were fatalities among the crew, other reports indicate that there were no casualties. The family of Erkan Nika, however, reports that the seafarer is missing. Since there has been no official statement, the claims regarding casualties have not been confirmed.
One of the First Vessels to Use the Ukrainian Grain Corridor
The Aroyat, reported to be operated by Istanbul-based Kiva Marine, was among the first commercial vessels to use Ukraine's temporary maritime corridor in 2023. The ship participated in the resumption of grain exports from the Port of Chornomorsk following the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
