Amasra faces strong winds and high waves as ships seek shelter; authorities implement safety measures along the coast.
Dry cargo ships struggled off Amasra.
According to a news report published by DHA on the morning of October 18, the wind speed in Amasra reached 80 kilometers per hour from the northwest. It was reported that dry cargo ships at sea were struggling in the strong winds. The water that crashed against the rocks at the Büyük Liman rose to approximately 6 meters and reached the windows of the restaurants. (DHA, October 18, 09:12)
Fishermen did not go out to sea; the Coast Guard, police, and municipal teams took precautions along the coast. In a separate report from IHA, it was noted that ships and boats took refuge in Amasra Port. These reports do not disclose the names of the ships, IMO numbers, or official distress call details. Therefore, it is not possible to compile a list of accidents by naming the struggling ships. (DHA, October 18, 09:12; IHA / Habertürk, October 18, 09:27)
The port area was flooded, and a security cordon was established along the coast.
According to IHA, waves reached the parking lot at Küçük Liman. The police cordoned off the risky section of the coast and evacuated people. It was also requested that boats and vessels that had been pulled ashore be moved from areas accessible to the waves. The report indicates that the events developed with the storm that began early in the morning in Amasra. (IHA / Habertürk, October 18, 09:27)
Power outage in Kurucaşile; transportation halted on the Bartın–Cide road.
The storm's impact was not limited to the port area. According to DHA's follow-up news at 09:25, trees were uprooted in Kurucaşile, and beach pavilions were damaged. Due to damage to energy lines, there was a power outage in the district. (DHA, October 18, 09:25)
The Uğurlu section of the Bartın–Kastamonu–Cide road was closed due to fallen trees; it was reported that teams were working to clear the road. In the village of Arıt Turanlar, the roof of a house was blown off by the wind. These are the status updates at the time the news was published; local announcements should be monitored for the subsequent status of the road and electricity network. (DHA, October 18, 09:25)
Bulgarian sources evaluated the strong cyclone for the Turkish coasts.
In Bulgarian sources, a report by Dunavmost on the evening of October 17, citing Meteo Balkans, drew attention to a cyclone developing approximately 300–400 kilometers from Burgas. In the model assessment, it was expected that the system would strengthen overnight and that the heaviest impact would be felt on Turkey's northern coasts. (Dunavmost / Meteo Balkans, October 17)
This report is a forecast assessment; it is not an incident record reporting a new sinking off the coast of Bulgaria. The international official bulletin also describes a low-pressure system moving north, associated with fronts south of the Western Black Sea. Therefore, the prominent system explaining this storm is not an 'anticyclone,' but rather a cyclonic low pressure. (WMO/IMO METAREA III, October 18, 04:00 UTC bulletin)
New nighttime warning for Anapa and Temryuk from Russia.
The Krasnodar regional organization of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that the southwest wind could reach 20–25 meters per second for Anapa and Temryuk, and waves could reach 3–4 meters. It was advised not to approach the coastline and to limit going out to sea. (Russia MES Krasnodar, October 17, 14:45 warning)
The date distinction here is important: the validity of this warning published on October 17 extends to the evening of October 18 and the night of October 18–19. Therefore, the values along the Russian coasts should not be presented as measurements that occurred the previous night. (Russia MES Krasnodar, October 17, 14:45 warning)
The '10 meters and closed ports' news from Romania is from 2011.
In a Romanian search, there was also a report describing 10-meter waves at sea and the closure of the ports of Constanța, Midia, and Mangalia. However, this record from Radio România Actualități is dated October 18, 2011. Although the day and month are the same, the news is not evidence of the 2026 storm; it cannot be used for today's port situation. (Radio România Actualități, archive news dated October 18, 2011)
In the sources examined for the Romanian and Ukrainian coasts, no new sinking, grounding, or rescue operation explicitly linked to the time frame of October 17–18 was identified with verified details. This search does not cover all maritime safety communications; the absence of confirmed new records does not mean that no issues occurred in the region.
Has the danger passed? Bulletins still indicate severe weather.
In the sea forecast from MGM for October 18–20, winds of 7–9 Beaufort are predicted for the Western Black Sea on October 18. Waves are generally reported to be 1.5–2.5 meters, locally 3.5–4 meters, and 5 meters offshore. Although weakening is expected in the western part after the evening hours, some areas still have forecasts of 6–8 Beaufort for the early hours of October 19. (MGM, October 18–20 sea forecast)
The bulletin from the WMO/IMO system dated October 18, 04:00 UTC, which corresponds to 07:00 Turkish time, predicts west winds of 9–10 Beaufort south of the Western Black Sea. This number refers to wind strength, not meters. Presenting regional forecasts as a single value for the entire Black Sea and using forecasts as retrospective measurements would be misleading. (WMO/IMO METAREA III, October 18, 04:00 UTC bulletin)
Warning to mariners: Look at the specific risk assessment for the vessel, not just the news image.
Voyage and operational decisions should be made with current data. The latest instructions from port authorities, valid sea forecasts, and the vessel's safety management system should be evaluated together; actions should not be based solely on coastal images. The presence of other vessels taking refuge in a port does not mean that the port is safe or accessible for every vessel.
Seaworthiness, cargo, and personnel safety are priorities. Together in Safety's severe weather guide emphasizes the control of openings that should be kept closed, securing cargo and equipment, and informing the crew of the limits for working on open decks. Personnel should be continuously monitored during mandatory deck work; decisions regarding the vessel's speed and heading should be made based on the captain's specific assessment of the vessel. (Together in Safety, severe weather guide)
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
