A Liberian-flag oil tanker carrying 23 Indian crew members caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast after what Russian authorities say was an attack by naval drones. All 23 crew members aboard the vessel were rescued, with no injuries reported, according to a Reuters report.
The tanker, which was identified as the Aframax Rio, was attacked on Tuesday near the Russian resort city of Sochi. Russia’s Transport Ministry said an unmanned vessel attacked the ship, and it set fire to it. That attack has raised new doubts about the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, in the midst of a war between Russia and Ukraine.
All 23 of the tanker’s crew were Indian and were evacuated from the ship after the attack. There were no casualties or injuries among the crew. The successful rescue brought relief to the nation as the blaze was so intense and vessels in the region were also at risk.
The fire was too intense for emergency personnel to approach the tanker at first, the Russian authorities said. Another attempt to contain the fire was expected today after the intensity of the flames waned, they said. Russian officials also said crude oil was burning onboard the vessel.
Video and photos on social media showed huge flames in the tanker and a thick column of black smoke near the coastline. Emergency authorities in Sochi closed coastal areas and beaches as emergency operations were ongoing.
Russia did not immediately identify those who were behind the attack. Ukrainian involvement in a number of previous attacks against boats and infrastructure in the Black Sea has long been suspected, but there was no immediate independent proof that Ukraine was behind this incident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the vessel had been struck by a drone.
The tanker incident occurred as a series of maritime incidents took place in the Black Sea, as commercial vessels were increasingly worried about the safety of ships in waters that were affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. Commercial shipping has faced increasing risk in the region since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
One day before the tanker fire near Sochi, the Turkish-owned cargo vessel MV Royad Mammadov caught fire and sank in the Black Sea outside Romania’s territorial waters, Reuters reported. Two people were killed and 11 crew members were rescued. Three Indian nationals were among the crew members who were injured in the incident.
India also expressed concern about attacks on commercial shipping. The Ministry of External Affairs also repeated India's position that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The MEA also confirmed that injured Indian crew members rescued by Romanian authorities were receiving medical treatment and thanked Romanian authorities for their swift assistance.
Manoj Mohapatra, Indian ambassador to Romania, visited the three Indian nationals in Constanța County Hospital and assured them that further assistance will be given. These developments show that Indian seafarers are more and more involved in the risks of the deteriorating security environment around commercial maritime routes.
The MEA has also expressed deep concern over the continued threat to commercial shipping and warned that attacks on vessels can jeopardize worldwide trade and the lives and safety of seafarers. India has also been involved in world maritime security efforts including the co-creation of the “Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers” at the United Nations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had raised concerns over attacks on commercial vessels during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, underlining the importance of protecting international shipping and seafarers.
Some other incidents were reported in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. Two commercial vessels were also hit by drones on Tuesday according to Reuters. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank, and the Palau-flagged Able caught fire. All 18 crew members of the Able were evacuated, but two were seriously injured.
The origin of the drones involved in the Bulgarian incidents remained under investigation. Zelenskyy blamed Russia for those attacks while the circumstances surrounding the incidents were still being investigated.
The latest incidents underscore the growing risks faced by commercial shipping in and around the Black Sea. The region is still key to energy and other maritime trade and repeated attacks on commercial vessels would have a far-reaching effect on shipping routes, insurance costs, cargo movement and the safety of international crews.
And for India, the incidents also demonstrate the vulnerability of Indian seafarers working aboard international commercial vessels. With the tanker attack ending without casualties among its 23 Indian crew members, attention is likely to stay on maritime security and the protection of civilian shipping as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.
