A serious incident occurred Monday night in the Black Sea when the Greek-owned cargo ship “ANNA S,” flying the Liberian flag, was struck by a projectile while it was approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Novorossiysk.
The ship, which according to current information is owned by Neptune Tradebulk Inc., has been virtually destroyed by the fire caused by the explosion.
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It is, however, unknown whether it has begun to sink or if it remains afloat. At the time of the incident, the “ANNA S” was carrying no cargo and was heading to Novorossiysk to load grain. A total of 21 crew members were on board the bulk carrier—20 Filipino sailors and the Romanian captain. All of them abandoned the ship and were rescued by another merchant vessel sailing in the area, the Elina B, which had a crew of 20.
According to information from protothema.gr, approximately five hours later, the ship that had picked up the 21 sailors from the “ANNA S” was also struck. Despite the damage it sustained, the “Elina B” continued sailing at a speed of approximately 9.5 knots toward a port in Turkey.
The incident heightens concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Novorossiysk area, one of Russia’s most important hubs for the export of grain and energy products. Of particular significance is the fact that the Greek-owned “ANNA S” was not carrying any cargo and was on a purely commercial voyage to pick up grain, a fact that once again highlights the danger to which merchant ships and their crews are exposed as military operations expand into the maritime zones and approaches to the ports of the Black Sea.
Source: Protothema.gr
