A tanker run by a Turkish company reported an explosion in its engine room after midnight while sailing in the Black Sea, Turkey's transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. The vessel had loaded crude oil from Russia and informed Turkey's emergency centre about the blast.

What Turkish authorities are saying

The minister told television reporters that the blast seemed to be a deliberate hit on the engine room. He added that investigators believe the strike was not from an aerial drone but from a surface unmanned vessel operating at water level. The attack occurred near Istanbul and local authorities were sent to the scene. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

Crew and immediate situation

  • Crew: All 27 crew members are reported uninjured, according to Anadolu.
  • Response: Law enforcement and maritime authorities have been dispatched and the incident is under active review.

The tanker and its cargo

Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that at the time of the incident the tanker was carrying about 140,000 tonnes of crude oil loaded in Russia. The ship was approximately 24 kilometres from the northern entrance of the Bosporus, the channel that separates Istanbul's European and Anatolian shores.

Ownership history and sanctions

Local reporting and open sources trace the vessel through several owners and name changes. Key points include:

  • The ship previously sailed in the Besiktas Maritime fleet under the name Besiktas Dardanelles.
  • In May 2024 it was acquired by Kayseri Shipping, registered in Panama, and renamed Kayseri.
  • In November 2025 the vessel was bought by Pergamon Maritime in Istanbul and renamed Altura. Later it became subject to international sanctions.

Sanctions timeline reported by Turkish outlets:

  • European Union: added the ship to a sanctions list on 24 October 2025.
  • Switzerland and Ukraine: listed the vessel on 13 December 2025.
  • United Kingdom: imposed related measures on 24 February this year.
  • United States: in July 2025 listed an individual tied to Kayseri Shipping, Hector Varela De Leon, in its sanctions notices.

Reports also say the company was linked to Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, who is identified as the son of Ali Shamkhani, the former secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Ali Shamkhani was reported killed in an Israeli raid on 28 February, a date that coincided with the start of the wider confrontation with Iran.

What happens next

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident. Turkish officials have emphasized the targeted nature of the explosion and the unusual suggestion that an unmanned surface vessel carried out the strike. International and local agencies are tracking the situation as they gather more evidence and evaluate maritime safety in the area.

Sources cited in reports: statements from the Turkish transport minister, Anadolu, NTV, and Turkish maritime reporting outlets.