The LADY ZEHMA was attacked by drones and rockets after leaving Odessa. All 22 crew members, including one Turkish sailor, are safe.
TWO ATTACKS ON LADY ZEHMA: Ship Arrivals at Ukrainian Ports Halted
The Panama-flagged LADY ZEHMA was reported to have been attacked by drones and rockets after departing from Odessa. The crew of 22, which included one Turkish sailor, escaped unharmed. Due to these attacks, shipowners have halted sending new vessels to Ukraine's Black Sea ports, while Maersk has suspended its services at Chornomorsk Fishing Port.
One of the latest targets of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea was the Panama-flagged LADY ZEHMA.
According to a statement from the ship's operator, GN Group Corporation, the LADY ZEHMA was attacked twice while sailing in the Black Sea on July 21. International maritime media reported that one of the attacks was carried out by a drone, while the other was executed with a rocket.
The crew consisted of 19 Azerbaijani, one Turkish, one Ukrainian, and one Egyptian national, totaling 22 sailors. It was reported that all crew members were safe, with no injuries or fatalities.
In the attack, one of the ship's cargo holds, the hatch cover, and neighboring deck structures were damaged by explosion debris. The company stated that the main engine, steering, and navigation systems were operational, and the ship continued to sail under its own power, with no marine pollution detected.
GN Group did not specify the party responsible for the attack in its statement. Therefore, the attack on the LADY ZEHMA must be assessed separately from the broader regional attack scenario.
Shipowners Halted Port Entries
According to a Reuters report dated July 23, shipowners have temporarily halted new ship arrivals at Ukraine's Black Sea ports due to increasing Russian attacks. This decision is not an official ban imposed by the Ukrainian state but a commercial decision made by shipowners assessing the risks of war and insurance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that not a single ship had entered the ports the previous day.
According to data from the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office reported by local media, 28 civilian vessels were hit between June 20 and July 20, resulting in 21 fatalities. It is reported that Ukraine has lost approximately one-third of its grain export capacity via the Black Sea.
Maersk has also suspended its services through Chornomorsk Fishing Port until further notice due to security conditions. Import cargoes directed to Chornomorsk will be transferred to Romania's Constanța Port. Ukrainian authorities stated that the deep-sea port of Chornomorsk and other ports in the Greater Odessa region continue to operate, and the suspended terminal is a separate operation.
Attacks in the Black Sea are no longer just a matter of ship and crew safety. Grain exports, freight rates, war risk insurance, and the ability to find ships for ports are directly affected. A port may remain open on paper; if a shipowner is not sending their vessel, having the door open commercially does not mean much.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
