Seafarers face severe weather and maritime threats in the Black Sea following recent attacks on commercial vessels.
Maritime News | Warning to Mariners | October 18, 2026
Forecast period: October 18-19, 2026. Times are in Turkey time (UTC+3) unless otherwise stated.
Following attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, seafarers are now faced with severe weather conditions. Meteorological warnings indicate particularly strong winds in the western regions, while the difficulties encountered during the salvage operations of damaged vessels demonstrate how dependent the intervention capacity in the area is on weather conditions.
MGM issues a 7-9 Beaufort warning.
The General Directorate of Meteorology's warning number 519 covers the period from October 17 at 22:00 to October 19 at 10:00. A strong storm is expected from the west and northwest in the western Black Sea, and from the west and southwest in the eastern regions. The agency reports wind strength of 7-9 Beaufort, with speeds of 75-90 kilometers/hour.
Latest international bulletin predicts heavier conditions: 9-10 Beaufort in the southern part of the western Black Sea.
The warning number 428 from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, dated October 17 at 22:00 UTC, predicts winds of 9-10 Beaufort from the west starting from October 18 at 07:00 in the southern part of the western Black Sea. This part of the warning is expected to last at least until 13:00. This is not a uniform forecast for the entire Black Sea; it is valid for the specified sub-region and time frame.
Deepening low-pressure center.
The same international bulletin anticipates that the low pressure of 1005 hPa over Central Turkey will move northward and deepen to 1001 hPa over the western Black Sea by October 18 at 06:00. Therefore, it is not accurate to refer to the current situation merely as a 'severe anticyclone'; the prominent system in the official meteorological assessment is a low-pressure center associated with fronts.
Wave forecast of 5 meters in the open sea; risk may not end immediately when winds decrease.
In the sea forecast from MGM for October 18-20, waves in the Black Sea are generally reported to be 1.5-2.5 meters, locally 3.5-4 meters, and 5 meters in the open sea for October 18 and 19. Reduced visibility is also expected during heavy rainfall.
The forecast of five meters is not a definitive upper limit for every wave that may be encountered. The international bulletin reminds that individual waves may exceed the reported significant wave height, and wind gusts may be stronger than the reported values.
MGM anticipates that after the evening of October 18, winds in the western part of the western Black Sea will decrease to 4-6 Beaufort. However, in the early hours of October 19, forecasts of 6-8 Beaufort winds and high waves in the open sea continue in other areas. Therefore, regional weakening should not be interpreted as the end of danger throughout the basin.
Are there vessels struggling in heavy weather?
Reports and official records indicate concrete instances where severe weather has complicated rescue operations. However, it is essential not to present the situation of vessels attacked in previous days as new accidents caused by the storm on October 18-19.
CHELSEA-3: Difficult towing operation completed.
According to a report from the Bulgarian news agency BTA dated October 17, the main difficulties in towing CHELSEA-3 to Burgas were the bad weather and the severe structural damage to the vessel. Burgas Port Captain Zhivko Petrov highlighted the risk of further damage and sinking during the towing process.
The vessel was delivered to Burgas on October 17. Therefore, it is not accurate to depict CHELSEA-3 as a vessel still waiting to be towed in the open sea. This incident serves as a recent example of how approaching a damaged vessel, evacuating personnel, and towing operations are complicated in severe weather.
WINE TRADER: Search efforts affected by bad sea conditions.
According to a report from Reuters dated October 16, five of the twelve crew members of WINE TRADER, which was hit near Sulina, were rescued, while seven were reported missing. Search operations, complicated by poor sea conditions, were resumed on October 16. The report mentioned that the operation would be conducted with helicopter and vessel support. This information should not be interpreted as confirmation that the operation continued in the same manner on October 18.
In the warning ARN 145/2026 from the Romanian Hydrographic Directorate dated October 15, WINE TRADER is reported to be at anchor and without crew. The warning requests that at least one nautical mile of safe distance be maintained from the vessel and that relevant information be communicated to the Constanța Maritime Rescue Coordination Center via VHF Channel 16. The latest status of this notification should be checked before navigation.
There is also an older sinking danger notification for ROYAD MAMMADOV.
The same official list contains a record of sinking danger for ROYAD MAMMADOV in notification ARN 141/2026 dated October 7. Vessels are requested to maintain a safe distance. This is not a report of an incident caused by the new storm; it is a previous danger notification that should also be checked for relevance in the navigation plan.
Safety reminders for seafarers.
The following recommendations are general safety reminders. The captain's assessment should be based on the vessel's characteristics, cargo, and the area it is in, as well as the company's safety management system and the current instructions from the relevant authorities.
Reassess the voyage decision and arrival time. Compare the sub-regions and passage times along the route with the latest bulletins. Confirm the status of port entry, pilotage, and tug services with local authorities. Do not use the forecasts in the news as a substitute for the latest port instructions.
Do not consider being at anchor as a guarantee of safety. Conduct a vessel-specific assessment for anchor dragging, swing area, distance to neighboring vessels, and the risk of being swept ashore. Review machinery readiness, watchkeeping arrangements, and the plan for requesting assistance if necessary according to the captain's instructions. There is no single anchoring or maneuvering recipe applicable to every vessel.
Check watertightness and cargo safety before severe weather arrives. Together in Safety's severe weather guide recommends checking closures that must be kept closed at sea, securing cargo and equipment, and informing the crew about the expected weather. The vessel-specific checklist should include examining hatch covers, doors, deck openings, and loose items.
Do not send unnecessary personnel to the deck. The UK P&I Club's guide on deck work in heavy weather emphasizes postponing non-essential tasks. For mandatory interventions, the captain's permission, risk assessment, appropriate protective equipment, and continuous communication with the bridge must be ensured. Do not make unprepared exits to recover loose equipment during a storm.
Monitor navigation warnings and distress communications. Check the currency of NAVTEX, GMDSS maritime safety information, and local VHF announcements for the area. In cases of machinery or steering failure, flooding, or uncontrolled drifting, contact the relevant rescue center and coastal authorities without delay according to the vessel's emergency procedures.
Do not approach suspicious floating objects. The Romanian Hydrographic Directorate's warning regarding floating objects and military equipment requests maintaining a safe distance, avoiding collisions, not touching them, and informing the authorities. Do not attempt to closely examine or bring these objects on board for identification.
Confirmation boundary for Ukrainian and Russian coasts.
In the search of Turkish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Russian sources, concrete records of severe weather and vessel interventions that could be used for this news were found in the aforementioned sources. No new vessel accidents linked to the storm on October 18-19 could be confirmed in this search along the Ukrainian and Russian coasts. This result does not imply that there is no danger or need for assistance in those coasts. Accessible open sources do not provide a complete account of all operations in the entire region.
Basic message to seafarers: Assess meteorological risk and safety risk together. Do not make voyage decisions based on outdated charts, old distress messages, or a single wind value.
Publication note: This news is not an official navigation instruction or real-time rescue bulletin. The validity times of the forecasts and the notification dates of vessel incidents differ. The latest meteorological, navigation, and port announcements should be checked before and during the voyage.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
