Turkish tugboat Ayaz Bey collides with vessel in Black Sea

A Turkish tugboat, the Ayaz Bey, collided with the vessel Mentor in the Black Sea near the Romanian resort of Neptun on November 4, 2026. The incident occurred around 04:20 local time after towing lines snapped due to severe weather conditions, including high winds and rough seas.

The Ayaz Bey and another tug, the Ramazan Bey, were towing the Mentor, an uncrewed vessel previously damaged near the port of Odesa, Ukraine, toward Turkey. Following the collision, the Ayaz Bey issued a MAYDAY signal and faced the risk of sinking.

Romanian emergency services, including the Coast Guard, the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and the Romanian Shipwreck Rescue Agency (ARSVOM), launched a rescue operation. Due to extreme weather, aerial support was unavailable. Three of the seven Turkish sailors on board were rescued by the Dutch-flagged tug Odin and are being transported to the port of Mangalia. The remaining four crew members reportedly declined evacuation, stating they did not require assistance. The Ayaz Bey is currently anchored.