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The Turkish shipping firm Besiktas Shipping said it will cease all cargo transport operations connected to Russia, according to a Reuters report citing the company. In late November, the company’s oil tanker Mersin was damaged by four external explosions while anchored off the coast of Senegal.
As Besiktas Shipping announced:
“Throughout our operations, we have strictly adhered to all international sanctions regimes, maintaining full compliance with the G7/EU Price Cap mechanism and all relevant trade restrictions. However, the security situation in the region has escalated considerably. After a thorough assessment, we have concluded that the risks posed to our vessels and crew have become untenable. As the safety of our personnel and assets is our highest priority, we are halting all such operations.”
According to information on its website, the Istanbul-based Besiktas Shipping operates one of Turkey’s largest tanker fleets, with 29 vessels.
As reported earlier, on Nov. 27 the Mersin was damaged by four external explosions, after which the vessel began taking on water. The owner said no crew members were injured and no cargo leaked. The cause of the blasts remains unknown. The Turkish outlet Istanbul Haber reported the tanker had been attacked by Ukrainian drones because it was carrying Russian oil.
Between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2, three tankers linked to Russia — the Midvolga 2, the Kairos, and the Virat — were reported to have come under attack off the coast of Turkey.