4 Bangladeshi mariners rescued safely after Black Sea tanker attack near Turkey
The rescued Bangladeshi mariners are waiting in Turkey for instructions from their employer on whether they will be flown home or reassigned
Four Bangladeshi seafarers have been evacuated from an oil tanker that caught fire following a suspected drone strike in the Black Sea last night (28 November).
All 25 crew members, including four Bangladeshis from the vessel, are now staying at a hotel in Turkey while arrangements are being made for their return home.
The mariners were serving aboard the tanker Kairos, one of two sanctioned shadow-fleet vessels that reported explosions and fires within half an hour of each other yesterday (28 November), according to The Maritime Executive.
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Both ships were operating near the Turkish coast when the incidents occurred.
The Bangladeshi mariners have been identified as Mahfuzul Islam Plabon, Ajgar Hossain, Al Amin Hossain and Habibur Rahman.
Ajgar, from Sandwip in Chattogram, told The Business Standard that the attack came without warning.
"Kairos was attacked by three robotic boats by the Ukrainian army in Turkish waters around 7pm Bangladesh time. Soon after the attack fire engulfed the vessel. Fortunately, all the crew members managed to escape the fire as the Turkish Coast Guard rescued them soon after the incident," he said.
"We are all fine and now in a hotel in Turkey waiting for the instructions from our ship owner", Ajgar added.
Mehedi Hasan, managing director of Marine Fleet, the agency that recruited the seafarers, said the ship's Chinese owner is handling their care.
"We had a conversation and all crew members, including Bangladeshis, are in good health," he said.
"It is not certain whether they will be repatriated or boarded on another ship of the company. We expect clarity by Monday," he added.
Two tankers hit, hours before separate rescue
The first explosion was reported aboard Kairos, a 149,989-dwt tanker built in 2002, approximately 28 nautical miles north of the Turkish coast, about 52 kilometres from the Bosphorus. A fire broke out around 1500 GMT.
Turkish authorities said the ship's master reported an "external impact" before the blaze.
Twelve tugs and multiple Turkish Coast Guard vessels were deployed to evacuate all 25 crew members. Local authorities confirmed they were taken ashore in good condition.
About thirty minutes later, a second tanker, Virat (115,643 dwt), also Chinese-owned and previously flagged to Gambia, reported a hit roughly 35 nautical miles offshore.
Heavy smoke was detected in the engine room but the crew of 20 were reported safe and did not request evacuation. A firefighting and towing-capable tugboat has been dispatched as a precaution.
Sanctioned vessels under scrutiny
Both tankers have been on sanctions lists this year due to their involvement in transporting Russian oil.
Kairos, previously known as Katiuska, was sanctioned by the European Union (EU) in May and by the UK in July. Equasis records show the vessel was sold in August to the Chinese firm Alafia Trading. Its current flag status is listed as unknown.
Virat, built in 2018, was sanctioned by the US in January and later by the EU and UK. It also reportedly changed ownership to a Chinese company earlier this year.
Unconfirmed reports circulated on international media suggesting the incidents were part of a coordinated drone attack. Others raised the possibility that Kairos struck a mine. Images from the scene showed a large plume of smoke rising from the vessel.
Turkey's Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the back-to-back incidents were unusual and confirmed that authorities are investigating the cause of the explosions.
For now, the rescued Bangladeshi mariners are waiting in Turkey for instructions from their employer on whether they will be flown home or reassigned.
