Two killed after fire breaks out on sinking vessel in Black Sea

A grain-carrying vessel was reported to be sinking in the Black Sea after a fire broke out on board, leaving two people dead and 11 others rescued.

The incident involved the Royad Mammadov, according to Romania’s Naval Authority. The vessel was located beyond Romania’s territorial waters, reportedly close to an offshore oil platform operated by energy company OMV Petrom.

Romania’s Interior Ministry confirmed that 11 crew members were rescued from the vessel. Two others died as a result of the incident.

Romanian media reported that the ship was Turkish and was carrying a cargo of grain at the time of the fire. The cause of the incident has not yet been established, and the Romanian Naval Authority said no further information was currently available.

Vessel-tracking data from VesselFinder showed the vessel flying the St Kitts & Nevis flag and travelling towards Ravenna, Italy. Its last recorded port of call was Izmail, Ukraine.

Photo credit: Cengiz Tokgoz on Vesselfinder.com. All rights reserved.