The Turkish-flagged Lionfish was struck by a drone in the Black Sea, raising concerns over maritime safety amid ongoing conflict.
Another attack on commercial vessels in the Black Sea has been reported. The Turkish-flagged container/Ro-Ro ship named Lionfish was targeted by a drone attack while underway. A fire broke out in the ship's container section, which was extinguished by the crew, and there were no casualties or injuries reported in the incident.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the Black Sea continues to threaten commercial maritime transportation. Recently, it was reported that the Turkish-flagged commercial vessel Lionfish was attacked by a drone while sailing in the Black Sea.
According to information that emerged on September 13, the drone hit the container section of the Lionfish. Following the impact, a fire broke out on the ship, which was brought under control and extinguished by the crew's intervention. Initial statements indicated that there were no casualties or injuries as a result of the attack.
Owned by a Turkish company, the official ship registry of the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping shows the owner of the Lionfish as Feeder Link Maritime Inc. The Turkish-flagged vessel is registered in the Istanbul registry and is currently active.
Built in 1997 in Hamburg, Germany, the ship is 139 meters long and approximately 24 meters wide. The Lionfish has a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 13,059 and a gross tonnage (GT) of 9,991. The ship's call sign is TCA7558, and its IMO number is 9162667.
According to maritime sources, the Lionfish was a civilian commercial vessel traveling from Ambarlı to Novorossiysk before the attack. However, there has not yet been a definitive statement from the authorities regarding which side carried out the attack.
Therefore, it would not be accurate at this stage to directly state that 'Ukraine hit the Lionfish.' An official confirmation regarding the responsibility for the attack is awaited.
Following the attack, it was reported that the Lionfish was able to continue its course towards Trabzon. AIS information from maritime sources also indicates that the ship has recently used the ports of Trabzon, Ambarlı, and Diliskelesi.
The Lionfish attack has once again highlighted the risks posed by the war in the Black Sea to the Turkish commercial fleet. Particularly, the drone attack on a Turkish-flagged ship while it was underway has raised concerns about the safety of civilian maritime transportation in the region.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
