US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Tanker Trouble: Sanctioned Vessels Blaze in Black Sea
Two sanctioned tankers linked to Russian crude shipments caught fire after reported external impacts, with all 45 crew members rescued, raising concerns over Black Sea shipping safety.
- On Friday, Turkish authorities reported two oil tankers linked to the Russian shadow fleet caught fire near the Bosporus Strait, with coast guard and rescue units saving 25 from Kairos and 20 from Virat.
- Turkish maritime authorities said the Kairos explosion followed an "external impact" but did not specify the origin, and officials did not rule out naval mines after ships hit drifting ordnance in recent years.
- OpenSanctions records show the US sanctioned Virat in January this year, followed by the EU, Switzerland, UK and Canada, while the EU sanctioned Kairos in July this year, then the UK and Switzerland.
- Maritime authorities raised a high alert and monitor Bosporus ship traffic, while Friday's incidents prompted serious concerns about environmental risk and shipping safety in the Black Sea.
- The vessels' flag histories show Virat and Kairos frequently reflagged, while OpenSanctions warns their shadow fleet generates multibillion-dollar Kremlin revenues and poses major environmental risks.
Insights by Ground AI
30 Articles
30 Articles
Two tankers were hit in the Black Sea today, causing them to catch fire, Turkish authorities announced, and reports indicate that the crew members of both ships are safe.
·Belgrade, Serbia
Read Full Article
By SUZAN FRASER and ANDREW WILKS ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Two oil tankers were attacked and caught fire in the Black Sea, prompting rescue operations, Turkish authorities said Friday. The crew members of both vessels were reported to be safe. The OpenSanctions database, which tracks individuals or organizations involved in sanctions evasion, described the ships as part of a “ghost fleet” — vessels used to evade sanctions imposed on Russia after its…
·Boston, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources30
Leaning Left9Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
14%
R 22%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
