Turkish tanker with ties to Russian ports damaged off the coast of Senegal, owner reports four external explosions

Four explosions occurred near the oil tanker Mersin (IMO: 9428683) off the coast of Senegal. The vessel sustained damage, resulting in water entering the engine room. The explosions were reported by Russian pro-government outlet RIA Novosti citing Beşiktaş Shipping, the Turkish owner of the vessel.

Turkish media previously reported that the tanker, sailing under the Panamanian flag, was in distress off the coast of Senegal. Video released by Turkish media shows water nearly reaching the deck, with no visible signs of damage to the hull. The tanker transmitted the latest AIS data on Nov. 24 from Senegalese waters just south of Dakar.

The explosions occurred on Nov. 27 at around 8:45 p.m. local time. Beşiktaş Shipping stated that no one was injured and no environmental pollution resulted from the incident. The company emphasized that the tanker is currently stable and does not pose a threat to navigation or the safety of nearby facilities.

The Senegalese outlet Senenews reported that the tanker developed a leak off the coast of Senegal, and that authorities are trying to prevent a spill of the vessel’s approximately 500,000 barrels of oil. Meanwhile, Turkish outlet Istanbul Haber reported that the tanker was attacked by Ukrainian drones for transporting Russian oil. As The Insider found, Mersin has frequently called at Russian ports: at least 13 times this year alone — Ust-Luga in February, Novorossiysk in May, June, and July, Tuapse in June, and Taman in August. The vessel is not on any sanctions lists.

This past May, the vessel underwent a technical inspection in the port of Novorossiysk. As The Insider learned, two defects were identified: one related to ship security and another concerning fixture defects. The first category covers anything that could prevent attacks on the ship (piracy, unauthorized passengers, smuggling, etc.). However, as a maritime expert who wished to remain anonymous noted, this could be a minor remark from the inspector, referring to a relatively insignificant piece of equipment, such as a metal detector, flashlight, or even a shortage of ID badges.

This year has seen at least five similar incidents involving tankers damaged by mysterious explosions. All affected vessels had previously called at Russian ports. Reported cases include Vilamoura (Jun. 27), Grace Ferrum (February), SeaJewel (Feb. 15), Seacharm (Jan. 15), and Koala (Feb. 9).

Earlier in November, two tankers of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — Kairos (IMO: 9236004) and Virat (IMO: 9832559) — were attacked in the Black Sea. Both vessels are unregistered: they transmitted registration data from Gambia, but The Insider found that each had been recently removed from Gambian registers. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the attacks on tankers near its coast.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, also commented on the attacks (as quoted by TASS): “An attack on commercial vessels, on tankers, especially in Türkiye's territorial waters, is an outrageous incident. It is an infringement on the sovereignty of the Republic of Türkiye. It is an infringement on the safety and property of the owners of these vessels. It once again reveals the nature of the Kyiv regime.”