Storm strands war-damaged tanker Banda off Istanbul
The 105,576 dwt Liberian-flagged vessel grounded near Sariyer with six crew aboard.
A storm has driven the war-damaged Liberian-flagged tanker Banda ashore near Sariyer, Istanbul, marking the second grounding of a Black Sea casualty this week. The Turkish Coast Guard reported that the 105,576 dwt vessel lost control in heavy winds and rough seas, leaving it stranded along the northern coast of the city.
The Banda, measuring 238 metres in length and 42 metres in width, grounded near Kısırkaya after drifting in the storm. Unlike the abandoned product tanker Grace Romavictor, which washed up in Cilingoz Nature Park earlier this week, the Banda still has six Turkish crewmembers aboard. The Coast Guard confirmed that the crew is in good condition and expects to refloat the vessel once weather conditions improve.
Crew safe as storm halts recovery efforts
Turkish news outlet Habertürk reported the incident, stating: «?stanbul Sar?yer’de sürüklenen Liberya bayrakl? 238 metre uzunlu?undaki “BANDA” isimli ham petrol tankeri, K?s?rkaya aç?klar?nda karaya oturdu Yakla?k 42 metre geni?li?indeki tankerin k?y?ya yak?n noktadaki bekleyi?i sürüyor.» The vessel remains close to the shore, with authorities monitoring its position as the storm persists.
Brent Crude
The Banda’s grounding is the latest chapter in a saga that began on July 14, when the Security Service of Ukraine targeted the vessel with a drone strike approximately 70 miles southwest of Novorossiysk. At the time, the tanker was empty and approaching a terminal to load crude oil. Ukraine asserted that the Banda had transported Russian crude from ports including Ust-Luga, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Nakhodka.
The attack caused significant damage. Salvage firm Tsavliris Group reported that the strike hit near the stern, triggering an explosion and fire. Water ingress flooded the engine room, leaving the vessel without power. Tsavliris dispatched a rescue tug and salvage team, which began towing the Banda on July 17 and boarded it to conduct repairs on July 22. The team stabilised the vessel, installed a portable generator, and carried out repairs to the accommodation block before delivering the tanker to a Turkish anchorage on August 19.
From drone strike to storm: the Banda’s troubled journey
Turkish authorities later indicated that the Banda was struck again on September 2, though no further details were provided.
Turkey, along with Bulgaria and Romania, has been working to restore safe passage for commercial vessels, either through a moratorium or the establishment of a secure corridor.
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