September saw a surge in attacks on Black Sea vessels, highlighting the escalating risks to maritime trade amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Wave of attacks on ships in the Black Sea: They were consecutively hit in September.
The threat posed by the Russia-Ukraine war to maritime trade became even more apparent in September. During the first two weeks of the month, commercial and service vessels in the Black Sea were consecutively targeted by unmanned aerial and marine vehicles, resulting in the loss of two seafarers' lives. Among the targeted vessels was the Turkish-flagged Lionfish.
Attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea did not slow down in September. As a result of mutual drone and unmanned marine vehicle operations between Russia and Ukraine, it was reported that numerous ships were attacked during the period from September 1 to 14.
Baryon was hit on September 2.
One of the first confirmed attacks in September occurred against the container ship named Baryon.
The Baryon, flagged in Guinea-Bissau, was targeted by a drone while sailing from Russia's Novorossiysk Port to Pakistan's Karachi Port in the Black Sea on September 2.
Following the attack, a fire broke out in the ship's living quarters. The crew managed to control the fire, and the ship continued its voyage under its own power. It was reported that all 23 Indian seafarers on board were safe.
Two cargo ships targeted off Odesa.
On September 3, it was reported that two commercial vessels were struck by unmanned aerial vehicles off the coast of Odesa.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that a bulk carrier and a container ship were targeted in the attack, alleging that the vessels were carrying military supplies. The names and flags of the ships were not disclosed to the public.
Independent maritime security sources also noted that there was open-source information regarding the attack on two cargo ships by drones off Odesa on the morning of September 3. Detailed information about the damage to the vessels and potential casualties was not disclosed.
Suezmax tanker Siren hit by drone.
One of the notable attacks in September was directed at the crude oil tanker named Siren.
The Suezmax tanker, flagged in Liberia and managed by a Greece-based company, was attacked by a drone while sailing in the Black Sea on the night of September 3-4.
It was reported that the drone struck the aft superstructure and living quarters of the approximately 274-meter-long vessel. Initial reports indicated that there were no injuries in the attack, and no fire or oil spill was reported.
The attack reportedly occurred at coordinates approximately 42°19' North, 36°45' East. It could not be definitively determined who carried out the attack.
Repeated attacks on TEDY: Two seafarers killed.
One of the most severe incidents in September was the attack on the tugboat named TEDY.
The Somali-flagged TEDY was attacked by a drone near Odesa on September 9. The ship was then subjected to two more attacks while proceeding towards Constanța throughout the night.
In the attacks, Azerbaijani seafarers Aslan Aliyev and Asim Gasimov lost their lives. Imran Novruzov and Rauf Aliyev were injured and taken to the hospital in Chernomorsk.
It was reported that the crew consisted of a total of 10 individuals from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany, and Ukraine.
While Ukraine held Russia responsible for the attack, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not make a statement regarding the perpetrator of the attack. Russia, on the other hand, claimed that it targeted ships heading to Odesa during the same period because they were carrying military supplies.
The Turkish-flagged Lionfish was also hit.
The Turkish-flagged container/Ro-Ro ship named Lionfish was added to the chain of attacks in the Black Sea.
According to records from the Istanbul-based Chamber of Shipping, it was reported that the Lionfish, part of the Feeder Link Maritime fleet, was attacked by a drone while sailing in the Black Sea.
The attack, which struck the container section of the ship, resulted in a fire. It was stated that the fire was extinguished by the crew, and there were no casualties or injuries.
The 1997-built, 139-meter-long, and 24-meter-wide Turkish-flagged vessel continued its voyage towards Trabzon after the attack.
Civil rescue tug Sapphire also targeted.
On September 13, another vessel was added to the list of those attacked. According to Ukrainian authorities, the search-and-rescue tug named Sapphire was damaged in a Russian drone attack on a port in the Odesa region.
Ukraine stated that the vessel bore markings indicating it was a civilian search-and-rescue ship under international agreements and was used solely for civilian missions.
It was reported that there were no injuries among the crew during the attack.
Nefrit hit by a sea drone in Sochi.
The attacks were not limited to commercial vessels. It was reported that the Russian offshore support vessel named Nefrit, located in Sochi Port in the eastern Black Sea, was struck by a Ukrainian unmanned marine vehicle on September 4.
The attack was assessed as part of Ukraine's operations targeting Russia's maritime logistics.
Commercial vessels in the Black Sea are becoming direct targets of the war.
The recent attacks indicate that the danger to civil maritime transportation in the Black Sea has reached a new dimension.
According to a report by Reuters on September 2, following the increase in attacks in the region, some tankers and cargo ships have begun to use improvised protective systems such as nets, water-filled tanks, and tires against drones. Maritime security experts note that while these measures may be somewhat effective against small drones, they may not provide adequate protection against larger military systems.
The toll of the attacks in September reveals that the war is expanding from ports to open seas. In particular, the attacks on Baryon, Siren, TEDY, and the Turkish-flagged Lionfish while underway raise concerns about the safety of commercial navigation in the Black Sea.
Data obtained during the first two weeks of the month show that civil and commercial vessels are no longer merely indirect victims of port attacks but have become direct targets in some incidents.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
