ISTANBUL, Oct 6 (Reuters) – A Turkish-flagged basic cargo ship that was crusing on Thursday within the Black Sea en path to Ukraine’s Izmail port didn’t maintain harm from an explosion, Turkey’s maritime authority and the ship’s captain advised Reuters on Friday.
“An explosion occurred 15-20 meters behind the Kafkametler ship en path to Izmail port from Batumi port whereas it was cruising off the coast of Romania/Sulina (port),” the authority stated.
The ship continued crusing to its vacation spot to ship its cargo following checks and there was no proof that the explosion was attributable to a mine, it added.
Maritime sources advised Reuters on Thursday that the vessel had hit a sea mine and sustained minor harm, though the crew was secure.
The vessel’s Istanbul-based operator Kafkametler Maritime stated the vessel was at the moment on its approach to Izmail port and ship congestion within the Danube channel meant it was transferring slower. The corporate added that the crew have been secure and the vessel didn’t want any upkeep.
The vessel’s captain stated individually in a press release that whereas the reason for the blast was not clear, the explosion appeared to have been attributable to a backside mine within the Black Sea.
(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun and Jonathan SaulEditing by Mark Potter)
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