Two Oil Tankers Struck by Explosions in Black Sea: Crews Rescued by Turkish Authorities

Flames and thick black smoke were visible at the bow of the vessel as the incident unfolded in the Black Sea.

Turkish authorities confirmed on Friday that crews had been evacuated from two oil tankers in the Black Sea following explosions and fires, indicating the vessels may have been struck by external devices.

The Directorate General of Maritime Affairs announced on X that the Kairos, an empty tanker heading to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, ignited 28 nautical miles (52 kilometres) off the Turkish coast "due to external causes."

Officials confirmed, "All 25 crew members are safe and sound." Observers noted intense flames and dense black smoke emanating from the vessel's bow, though no immediate sea pollution was detected.

The incident aboard the Gambian-flagged Kairos occurred around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) near Kefken in Turkey's northern Kocaeli province, according to Governor Ilhami Aktas in his statement to the private NTV channel.

In a related development, the directorate reported that a second oil tanker, the Virat, "reported being hit approximately 35 nautical miles away," though specifics about the nature of the impact were not provided.

"Rescue teams and a cargo vessel were dispatched to the scene. The 20 crew members are safe and sound, though thick smoke was detected in the engine room," the directorate added. The Virat also sails under the Gambian flag, according to vessel tracking website Vesselfinder.

Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu elaborated on NTV: "An external cause means the vessel was hit by a mine, a rocket or a similar projectile, or by a drone, or by an unmanned underwater vehicle."

Both tankers are currently subject to Western sanctions for transporting oil from Russian ports, violating the embargo implemented after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The minister confirmed that all 25 crew members from the Kairos were safely evacuated, and rescue teams had successfully reached the Virat as well.

"Their health and safety are not at risk," he assured. "No pollution has been detected so far, but we are continuing to monitor the fire's progress."

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, numerous naval mines have been discovered and neutralized in the Black Sea.

These mines, deployed by both conflict parties to protect their coastlines, have subsequently drifted, particularly during stormy weather.

In response to this ongoing danger, NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, all with Black Sea coastlines, established a dedicated Naval Mine Countermeasures Group in 2024.