Damaged bulk carrier Aroyat passes through Istanbul Strait

The Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat, which sustained heavy damage following a drone attack near the Russian port of Novorossiysk in September, has passed through the Istanbul Strait. The vessel is being transported to Aliağa, Izmir, for shipbreaking after being deemed irreparable.

The attack, attributed to a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle, caused a fire on board that was eventually contained by the crew. During the incident, Turkish second engineer Erkan Nika fell overboard and went missing. Despite extensive search operations conducted in the engine room and enclosed compartments near Giresun, he could not be located.

During the transit through the Istanbul Strait, maritime traffic was temporarily suspended in both directions to facilitate the passage of the 148.17-meter-long vessel. The Aroyat is being escorted by the Eren Enerji IV tugboat to the shipbreaking facilities in Aliağa.