Turkey: Razouk cargo ship grounding in Bosphorus
A 100-metre cargo ship flying the Comoros flag has run aground in the Bosphorus Strait, highlighting renewed maritime safety concerns along one of the world’s busiest chokepoints. The vessel, Razouk, went aground near Kisirkaya, north of Istanbul, in late January while navigating toward an anchorage before continuing to Constanta Port. Turkish Coast Guard units were deployed after the incident, though no immediate distress call was initially issued. The grounding occurred in a narrow section linking the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, a corridor critical to regional and international shipping.
Medical evacuation and vessel condition
Built in 1997 and measuring 100 metres, the 8,749-dwt general cargo ship is owned by Turkish interests and reportedly carries a crew of 12. While no pollution or injuries were reported following the grounding, Turkish authorities confirmed that on February 3 a medical evacuation was requested. Using a breeches buoy system, rescue teams evacuated the ship’s captain for shore-based treatment. Officials stated the vessel remained stable as refloating operations continued under close monitoring.
Prior Black Sea attack and safety concerns
The grounding follows a reported security incident on January 22, when Razouk was allegedly struck by an unidentified aerial object while sailing off northern Turkey toward Russian ports. The explosion reportedly shattered bridge windows and damaged navigation equipment, forcing an emergency course change. Authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the earlier attack and the Bosphorus grounding. However, inspection records reveal long-standing safety deficiencies, with repeated port state control detentions in Romania and Russia. The case underscores growing concerns over vessel condition, maritime security, and navigational risk in strategic waterways.
