According to the Reuters agency, the incident occurred on the night of November 27th to 28th, while the ship was anchored near the coast of Senegal’s capital, leading the crew to send a distress signal and immediately mobilizing the country’s port and naval authorities.
The Mersin, which flies the Panamanian flag, is owned by the Turkish Mersin Shipping Inc. and managed by Besiktas Shipping, according to London Stock Exchange Group data. The Senegalese authorities have not yet provided clarifications on the causes of the explosions, limiting themselves to confirming the serious technical damage and the large ingress of water.
All crew members were rescued without injuries. Tugs and specialized teams are operating on site to stabilize the tanker and prevent a hydrocarbon leak.
According to the Dakar port authority, precautionary measures have been taken, such as the placement of an anti-pollution boom and the transfer of fuel from the ship.
Images circulated online show the stern of the Mersin particularly low on the waterline, an indication of either a full load or extensive flooding, as the response operations continue.
Water ingress in the tanker Mersin, off Dakar following explosions of unspecified cause /JX5pSM1U6d
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