Explosion rocks Black Sea as Liberian oil tanker hits mine en route to Romania

A mini-tanker with petroleum products sailing under the flag of Liberia blew up near the coast of Romania in the Black Sea.

Sky News reported this.

The incident occurred on Sunday, October 15, involving the tanker Ali Najafov. Fortunately, the ship sustained only minor damage, and the crew did not incur any injuries.

According to Yoruk Isik, head of the Bosphorus Observer consulting company, he was near the Sulina Canal then. This is the second ship that was blown up by a floating mine this month.

For reference:

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has also polluted the waters of the Black Sea with mines. They are often carried to the coast in the southern regions of Ukraine. These mines are a serious threat to shipping.

On October 6, it was reported that a mine in the Black Sea blew up the Kafkametler commercial ship flying the Turkish flag. The crew was not injured, and the ship itself received minor damage. The incident occurred 11 nautical miles north of the city of Sulina in Romania.

After this incident, Türkiye, Bulgaria, and Romania decided to create an initiative to combat sea mines in the Black Sea.