The Liberia flagged crude oil tanker Banda ran aground near Kisirkaya in Istanbul’s Sariyer district after drifting toward the coast in heavy weather. The tanker, 105,576 deadweight tonnes, had been damaged in a drone attack on July 14 while sailing empty toward Novorossiysk and had been under salvage since. Six Turkish personnel were aboard; Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure said they were not in danger, and the emergency response vessel Nene Hatun was sent to the area.
The Liberia flagged Grace Romavictor, also damaged in a drone attack near Novorossiysk and under tow toward Igneada Port since October 12, broke its towline in strong winds and heavy seas and went aground near Cilingoz Nature Park in Catalca district with no crew aboard. Coast guard teams found no sign of fuel leakage or marine pollution, and the Istanbul Regional Port Authority has begun work to refloat the vessel.