While Turkish authorities continue firefighting and stabilization operations for the two sanctioned tankers hit by Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea, another incident concerning another tanker from the shadow fleet is unfolding off the coast of Senegal, which has raised new concerns about the operations of Russia’s shadow fleet.
The Mersin tanker, flagged in Panama, is in a very serious incident off the coast of Senegal, slowly sinking, with the shipping community holding its breath. The ship, owned by a Turkish company, carrying approximately 30,000 tons of fuel oil, reported that it suffered a water ingress in the engine room during the night of November 27-28.
Senegalese authorities immediately activated an emergency team under the supervision of HASSMAR, in coordination with the Senegalese Navy, the National Maritime Affairs Service, and the Port Authority of Dakar. All crew members were safely rescued with no casualties reported.
The Port Authority of Dakar confirmed that its priority is to stop the water ingress and stabilize the vessel. An assessment of the situation is also underway to unload the fuel cargo it is carrying. Simultaneously, an anti-pollution boom has been deployed around the ship as a preventive measure. The French Navy dispatched a vessel to support the operations and assess the situation.
While the cause of the water ingress on the Mersin has not yet been made public, the timing of the incident coincides chronologically with the two incidents in the Black Sea, although a connection between the incidents has not been substantiated.
Shipping intelligence analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann of Windward AI noted that the Kairos was among 72 ships recently deleted from the Gambian ship registry for fraudulently issued certificates. “So, this ship is flagless, without a port of registry, and any insurance and class (if it has any) is invalidated by the fact that it falsely claims to fly the flag of Gambia,” Bockmann stated.
Specialists from Turkish environmental units and diving teams remain on standby in the Black Sea region as operations continue. The two incidents in the Black Sea have not interrupted ship transits through the Bosphorus.
The incidents highlight escalating concerns about shadow fleet vessels, which operate outside the standard framework, with the three separate cases within a few days underscoring both the geopolitical tensions surrounding Russian oil exports and the inherent risks posed by the aged, poorly maintained ships of the shadow fleet.
What is certain is that we are going through a very peculiar and difficult period regarding shipping, tankers, and safety at sea. These accidents are merely a harbinger of what the future holds for us. Ships of unknown identity, which are aged and poorly maintained, appear to be the next big problem for the shipping industry.
The tanker M/T Mersin, frequently seen in Russian ports like Novorossiysk and Taman, is now sinking off the coast of Senegal. The vessel had been heading to Africa but has remained stationary for nearly a week. Another ‘mysterious’ incident involving Russia-linked shipping. /iBbPU74pID
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) November 30, 2025
