On Friday, the captain of Mersina reported water entering the engine room. On Sunday, videos posted on Platform X showed that the draft of the ship, located a few nautical miles south of Dakar, was well above the waterline. However, there are no signs of fire or external damage.
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What happened to the Turkish tanker MT Mersin?
How much Russian oil did MT Mersin transport?
Is the crew of the MT Mersin safe?
What action has been taken regarding the MT Mersin situation?
On Saturday, several ships in the area began moving toward the stranded Turkish vessel to assess the situation and, if necessary, provide support to the crew. Senegalese services also appeared on site, accompanied by tugboats and warships.
The Dakar Port Authority said on Sunday that all crew members were safe and that “authorities are currently working to stabilize the ship to prevent hydrocarbon leaks and environmental contamination.”
The ship is owned by the Turkish company Mersin Shipping Inc. and managed by Besiktas Shipping, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group.
On Friday, Ukraine attacked two other Russian-linked tankers in the Black Sea, the MT Kairos and MT Virat, which belong to the shadow fleet transporting Russian crude oil.
