Turkish Cargo Ship ‘ANT’, Damaged in Drone Attack, Crosses Istanbul Strait
Istanbul, June 9 – The Turkish-owned cargo ship ‘ANT’, which sustained damage in a drone attack off the coast of Odessa, Ukraine, on May 28, successfully transited the Istanbul Strait this morning. Aerial footage clearly showed the extent of the damage to the vessel, which is now scheduled for maintenance at a shipyard in Yalova. Two Turkish crew members who suffered minor injuries in the attack are reported to be in good health.
Drone Attack Off Odessa
The ‘ANT’, a 99.8-meter long and 15.82-meter wide cargo ship flying the Vanuatu flag, belongs to Maksimar Denizcilik, an Istanbul-based company. The vessel was attacked by a drone on May 28 while off the coast of Odessa Port in Ukraine. Two Turkish crew members on board sustained minor injuries during the incident.
A fire that erupted on the ship was extinguished by the Ukrainian navy. The injured crew members were transported to a hospital by navy boats for treatment. Following their recovery, efforts were initiated to bring the vessel back to Turkey.
Passage Through Turkish Waters
The ship was towed into Turkish territorial waters by the ‘Haktan 1’ tugboat, owned by Haktan Denizcilik. This morning, it was escorted through the Istanbul Strait by tugboats belonging to the General Directorate of Coastal Safety.
Extent of Damage Revealed During Strait Transit
While the extent of the damage to the ship was not clearly visible in images shared by Ukrainian authorities immediately after the attack, its passage through the Istanbul Strait this morning revealed significant damage. The loaded vessel is initially headed to a shipyard in Yalova. A technical assessment will be conducted there to determine if repairs are economically viable. If the repair costs are deemed too high, the option of sending the ship for dismantling in Aliağa will be considered.
This incident highlights the ongoing risks to maritime shipping in the Black Sea region amidst the conflict in Ukraine.
