Explosions Rock Russian Shadow Tankers Near Critical Shipping Lane
Turkish authorities reported on Friday that two tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" were struck by explosions before catching fire in the Black Sea near the strategically vital Bosphorus Strait. The incidents occurred within hours of each other, raising immediate concerns about maritime safety in one of the world's most important shipping corridors.
Dual Emergencies Unfold Off Turkish Coast
According to Turkey's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, the first vessel involved was the Gambian-flagged Kairos, which caught fire approximately 28 miles off the coast of Kocaeli province. Officials described the cause as "an external impact," though they provided no specific details about what might have struck the 274-meter-long tanker.
The Turkish Transport Ministry confirmed the Kairos had been en route from Egypt to Russia when an explosion rocked the vessel. Within the same hour, maritime authorities reported a second incident involving another tanker, the Virat, which was "struck" while sailing about 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coastline.
Successful Rescue Operations Amid Heavy Smoke
Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to both locations. All 25 crew members aboard the Kairos were safely evacuated, according to Kocaeli Governor Ilhami Aktas, who noted that firefighting efforts were continuing as "a large fire is taking place."
Similarly, all 20 crew members from the Virat were confirmed safe, despite reports of heavy smoke filling the vessel's engine room. The swift evacuation of all 45 sailors involved in both incidents prevented what could have been a significant loss of life.
Shadow Fleet Operations Under Scrutiny
The OpenSanctions database, which monitors sanctions evasion activities, identified both vessels as part of Russia's "shadow fleet" - ageing tankers used to circumvent international sanctions imposed following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to LSEG data, both the Kairos and Virat appear on official lists of ships subject to these sanctions.
OpenSanctions notes that such vessels "continue to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions" by employing complex ownership schemes and operating under flags of convenience. The organisation highlighted significant environmental risks posed by these often poorly-maintained ships.
Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR, revealed that both ships have histories of visiting Russian ports and frequently shut off their automatic identification systems, which normally transmit vessel positions to maritime authorities.
International Sanctions and Operational History
The United States sanctioned the Virat in January of this year, with the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada following suit. Similarly, the EU imposed sanctions on the Kairos in July, later joined by the UK and Switzerland.
OpenSanctions records show the Virat, built in 2018, employs "irregular and high-risk shipping practices" and has previously sailed under the flags of Barbados, Comoros, Liberia and Panama. The Kairos, constructed in 2002, has formerly flown Panamanian, Greek and Liberian flags.
Both vessels have docked at ports in China, Turkey and India, among other locations, according to tracking data. The VesselFinder website indicated the Virat was anchored north of the Bosphorus on November 4, while the Kairos' last known position was south of the Dardanelles Strait on November 26.
Ongoing Investigation and Regional Implications
Governor Aktas declined to speculate on the specific causes of the fires, including whether sea mines might have been involved, promising that authorities would issue "a clearer statement" once their investigation concludes. The maritime authority released distant photographs showing smoke rising from the area where the Kairos caught fire.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in monitoring Russia's shadow fleet, which comprises older tankers often operating without reputable Western insurance and employing tactics such as disabling tracking systems and conducting ship-to-ship transfers at sea to disguise oil origins.
The opaque nature of these operations creates significant vulnerabilities for maritime safety and international law enforcement efforts, particularly in crowded shipping lanes like the Bosphorus Strait, which serves as a crucial passage between the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
