/Reuters Agency
A Turkish-owned oil tanker damaged near the coast of Senegal is believed to have been hit by four external explosions, but there were no injuries or pollution, its manager reported. The causes of the incident were not clear.
The vessel Mersin was anchored near Dakar when the detonations occurred, causing seawater to enter the engine room, the Istanbul-based company, Besiktas Shipping, said in a written statement.
“The situation was immediately controlled, and we confirm that all crew members are safe; there are no injuries, no loss of life, and no pollution,” Besiktas Shipping reported on the situation of the Mersin.
“The vessel remains safe and stable and does not pose any navigation or safety risks to its surroundings,” it added.
On November 28, one day after the explosions on board the Mersin in the Atlantic, Ukrainian naval drones attacked two sanctioned oil tankers in the Black Sea, near the coast of Turkey, as they were heading to a Russian port to load oil, an official reported on Saturday.
Kyiv is trying to increase pressure on Russia’s vast oil industry.
Although the Panama-flagged Mersin has also been involved in transporting Russian oil, according to maritime data firm Kpler, there was no indication of any connection to Ukraine.
Besiktas Group is listed as the registered owner of the oil tanker, according to the maritime database Equasis.
The incident, which led the vessel to issue a distress signal, prompted the deployment of tugs and specialized teams from the Senegalese navy and maritime authority, in an effort to prevent a possible oil spill.
Besiktas Shipping stated that it was working in full cooperation with insurers and Senegalese authorities, managing the consequences of the incident and supporting technical and forensic investigations.
