Tugboat sinks in Black Sea near Neptun; three crew evacuated
Seven Turkish sailors were rescued after their tugboat sank off the Romanian coast following a collision with a vessel it was towing. Three were taken to Mangalia port; four declined evacuation.
Illustration: AI-generated image
A Turkish-flagged tugboat sank in the Black Sea near the Romanian resort of Neptun in the early hours of Wednesday after colliding with a vessel it was towing, according to Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI). All seven Turkish crew members were accounted for, though only three accepted evacuation.
The Ayaz Bey sent an international distress call (MAYDAY) around 04:20 after the collision with the Mentor, a ship under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. The tug, together with the Ramazan Bey, had been towing the Mentor, which was uncrewed and had previously been damaged in Ukrainian waters near Odesa, towards Turkey.
According to the MAI, rough overnight weather caused the towing lines to break. After the lines were reconnected, the Ayaz Bey collided with the towed vessel and eventually sank.
Rescue crews mobilised two Ministry ships—one from the Border Police Coast Guard and another from the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations—along with the Sar Ares vessel of the Romanian Agency for Saving Life at Sea (ARSVOM). The operation was coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
Three crew members were taken aboard the tug ODIN, which flies the Dutch flag, and were set to be transported to the port of Mangalia for disembarkation. The other four sailors refused evacuation, stating they did not need assistance.
The MAI said the operation took place in exceptionally difficult conditions, with strong winds and very rough seas, which prevented the use of air assets. The ministry stressed that its priority was protecting human life and coordinating the emergency response.
