Sochi: A Liberian flagged oil tanker carrying 23 Indian sailors caught fire in the Black Sea off Russia’s resort city of Sochi after what Russian authorities described as an attack by an unmanned vessel, triggering a major emergency response and temporary restrictions along the coastline.
All 23 members of the tanker’s crew were rescued, and Russian authorities said there were no reported injuries. The vessel, identified as the Aframax Rio, was attacked on Tuesday, October 6, according to Russia’s Transport Ministry.
The attack sparked a fierce blaze aboard the tanker, with reports saying crude oil was burning openly in the waters around the vessel. The intensity of the fire initially prevented emergency crews from getting close enough to begin direct firefighting operations. Authorities said the situation became more manageable as the flames weakened.
Images and videos from the Sochi area showed bright flames at sea and a large column of black smoke rising above the coastline. The incident prompted authorities in the Sirius federal territory and Sochi to temporarily close beaches and restrict access to parts of the waterfront as a safety precaution. Air and water conditions were also monitored.
Local authorities said initial air quality readings in the Sirius area showed pollutant concentrations below maximum permissible levels and did not indicate an immediate threat to public health.
Who attacked the tanker?
Russia said the tanker was struck by an unmanned vessel, while several reports attributed the attack to Ukrainian forces. However, the attribution had not been independently established, and Ukraine had not publicly confirmed responsibility for the strike at the time of reporting.
The incident comes as commercial shipping faces growing risks in the Black Sea amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war. Several civilian vessels have been caught up in attacks in and around the region in recent days, raising fresh concerns about the safety of merchant ships and their crews.
The Aframax Rio has also drawn attention because the vessel has reportedly been placed on Ukraine’s sanctions list and identified by Ukrainian monitoring groups as being linked to Russia’s so called “shadow fleet” tankers accused of helping move Russian oil despite international sanctions.
For India, the incident is particularly significant because all 23 sailors aboard the tanker were Indian nationals. Their successful rescue avoided what could have been a major loss of life as the conflict increasingly threatens civilian shipping routes.
The episode also comes amid a series of recent maritime incidents involving Indian seafarers, underscoring the growing risks faced by crews working aboard commercial vessels in conflict affected waters.
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