29.11.2025 09:45
Two ships named KAIROS and VIRAT caught fire consecutively in the Black Sea. While the crew of the tanker ships, which experienced explosions, was rescued, the first statement regarding the cause of the incidents came from the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. Uraloğlu stated, "According to the first information we received, both ships were in our territorial waters. The initial information suggests that there was an external intervention."
An explosion occurred on the 274-meter-long tanker named "KAIROS," which was sailing to Russia's Novorossiysk port off the coast of Kefken in Kocaeli's Kandıra district. A fire broke out on the ship following the explosion. It was also reported that another tanker named VIRAT was hit off the coast of Kastamonu in the Black Sea and requested assistance.
In a statement from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, it was said, "The empty KAIROS tanker sailing to Russia's Novorossiysk port was reported to have caught fire due to an external impact, 28 miles off our coasts. The condition of the 25 crew members on board is good, and our rescue units have been dispatched to the area for the evacuation of the sailors, and the process is being monitored."
The Kocaeli Governorship also made a statement regarding the incident, saying, "A fire of unknown cause has occurred on a foreign-flagged ship off the coast of Kandıra Kefken. Coast Guard, Security, UMKE, and ambulance teams have been directed to the scene, and necessary interventions are being made. We express our best wishes and respectfully announce this to the public."
THE TANKER NAMED VIRAT WAS HIT
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure reported that rescue units have been directed to the scene for the tanker named VIRAT, which was hit approximately 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea, and that the condition of the 20 crew members on board is good.
The General Directorate shared information on the matter through the social media account of the US-based X company.
The post stated, "The tanker named VIRAT reported that it was hit approximately 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea, and rescue units and a commercial ship have been directed to the scene. The condition of the 20 crew members is good, but dense smoke has been detected in the engine room. The process is being monitored."
In a statement from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, it was noted, "There is no fire or emergency situation on the VIRAT ship, which was damaged in the Black Sea. There is no request from the crew to abandon the ship. A fire-fighting and towing-capable tug has been dispatched to the area in coordination with our Zonguldak Regional Port Authority as a precautionary measure."
MINISTER URALOĞLU: INITIAL INFORMATION INDICATES AN EXTERNAL INTERVENTION
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Uraloğlu, in a statement regarding the matter, said, "The ship named KAIROS is being intervened by our Nene Hatun and two other rescue boats. Although the ship is empty, explosions occur from time to time. We are in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Organization. We will clarify whether it is an attack, an explosion, or a collision with a mine."
Uraloğlu continued, "Its proximity to our coasts has heightened our sensitivity regarding this issue."
"The Gambian-flagged ships have personnel from different countries. None of them have health problems, but as a precaution, health teams are conducting a general check. Communication has been established with the captain of the second ship, and there are no injuries among the crew, but we will get clearer information when our Coast Guard teams arrive. Both ships are in our territorial waters according to the first information we received. I do not want to comment on whether the ships are under sanctions. The crew on board consists of 19 Chinese, 4 Bangladeshis, 1 Myanmar national, and 1 Indonesian. According to the initial information received, there is an indication of an external intervention."