Russia accused of striking bulk carrier in international waters – Splash247

Marking the first confirmed strike on a merchant ship in the Black Sea in many months, a Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier was struck by a Russian-launched missile last night after departing from the port of Chornomorsk, Ukraine.

According to maritime security sources, the 27,239 dwt bulker Aya, which was transporting grain to Egypt, sustained damage to its port side, including a cargo hold and a crane. The vessel was built in 1997 and is operated by VRS Maritime Services.

Data from MarineTraffic shows the ship left from Chornomorsk port in Ukraine at 7:31 am local time on Wednesday and made an urgent diversion having crossed international waters within less than 2 km of Romanian waters.

UK consultants Ambrey said that the vessel was able to sail on under its own power, indicating that its propulsion system was not compromised. No casualties were reported at the time of writing.

Vessels calling at the Black Sea were advised to conduct comprehensive dynamic voyage threat assessments. Crews are instructed to remain within the vessel’s superstructure, above the waterline, during UAV or missile attacks.

Reuters is reporting, citing unnamed sources, the vessel was hit in Romanian waters near the mouth of the Danube River in the Black Sea but looking at the trajectory of the Aya, it looks like the vessel was hit in international waters.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the incident via social media. He said that a Russian missile hit “an ordinary civilian vessel” carrying wheat cargo bound for Egypt after the ship had left Ukrainian waters.

“Ukraine’s food deliveries to African and Middle Eastern countries are critical. We will continue to make every effort to safeguard our ports, the Black Sea, and food exports to global markets. This is Ukraine’s true priority—to protect life—and it should be the priority of all countries. We are waiting for the world to react. Wheat and food security should never be targets for missiles,” Zelenskyy said.

The last confirmed strike on a merchant ship in the Black Sea was back in early November last year when a Soviet-style Kh-31P air-to-surface missile hit the 91,800 dwt Kmax Ruler, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier that was due to take a cargo of iron ore from Ukraine to China. The attack resulted in one fatality and four injured crewmen.