Bosphorus Strait Traffic Halted Due to Disabled Tanker: Latest Incidents in Russian Oil Trade

Vessel traffic in the busy Bosphorus Strait was halted today, December 26, by Turkish officials due to a disabled tanker. This incident is part of a troubling trend involving tankers in the Russian oil trade that have faced mechanical issues in the area.

According to Turkey’s Directorate General of Coastal Safety, three tugboats – Kurtarma-8, Kurtarma-10, and Kurtarma-11 – were dispatched to tow the disabled vessel to the Ahırkapı Anchorage Area, leading to a suspension of traffic in both northbound and southbound lanes during the operation.

The disabled tanker, named Cordelia Moon (163 288 dwt), was en route to Novorossiysk after undergoing repairs for damage sustained during an attack by the Houthi group in early October, which involved missiles, drones, and a bomb boat. Videos of the security team attempting to neutralize the bomb boat were shared online.

Managed from India and registered in Panama, the tanker was empty on its way to Russia and reportedly suffered an engine failure, according to Turkish authorities.

This incident adds to a series of similar occurrences involving tankers in the Russian oil trade. Last month, a smaller product tanker, Nazan (4 600 dwt), also caused a temporary closure due to a rudder malfunction. In August, another product tanker, Sredina (34 800 dwt), reported engine issues while traveling from Russia to Libya, resulting in another closure of the sea lanes.

Earlier this week, Greek authorities detained an unidentified tanker coming from Russia after it collided with a cargo ship in a lane east of Piraeus. Although there were no injuries, authorities are investigating the cause of the collision.