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Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

The 'Lunes Santo' and 'Scombrus II' broke lose from their moorings at the North Pier in the port of Mar del Plata on Oct 8, 2026, amid strong winds and were threatened to crash against the rocks of the seawall. A large-scale rescue operation, involving port authorities, the Argentine Coast Guard and private tug operators was required to secure the two ships again. The 'Lunes Santo', a former deep-sea freezer trawler, previously licensed for shrimp fishing, was being prepared for scrapping or as a potential artificial reef for a diving school. The 'Scombrus II' had also been inactive in the port for an extended period, awaiting removal. Report with photo and video: https://pescare.com.ar/mar-del-plata-dos-pesqueros-cortaron-amarras-y-obligaron-a-intervenir-en-la-escollera-norte/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TakCT-FQja4

On Oct 6, 2026, the 'Aframax Rio', carrying a cargo of oil, was struck by unmanned drone boats off the coast of Sochi, near the border between Russia and Georgia. Initially, a substantial fire was centered on cargo tanks amidships, followed by obvious signs of burning oil spreading aft down the starboard side. Later a large pool of burning oil was spilling on the water at the aft of the vessel and a towering column of smoke. Russia’s Transport Ministry said that all 23 crew members, who wdre Indian nationals, were rescued and preliminary information indicated there were no injuries among them. The tanker was fully ablaze in the evening; firefighting efforts could not be initiated immediately due to the intensity of the fire. Firefighting efforts would begin once the fire’s intensity had subsided and rescue vessels could safely approach the tanker. The tanker drifted with northern currents towards the Lazarevsky District on Oct 7. The fire could be put out by rescue forces, the wreck was still smouldering. Sochi residents were urged to keep their windows shut and stay indoors. Dmitry Plishkin, head of the Sirius federal territory administration, said that beaches in Sirius were closed following the fire, while the water and air quality were being continuously monitored. According to atmospheric air quality monitoring data, pollutant concentrations in the Sirius Federal Territory refromed lower than the maximum permissible concentrations and pose no threat to health. Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin said the city’s beaches and waterfront promenades would remain closed until further notice. The decision followed a meeting with security officials, emergency responders and public health and weather agencies. On Oct 5, the ship had been located at a position just off the coast of Sirius, a small coastal town to the southeast of Sochi. The vessel was transporting crude oil from Novorossiysk to India and was loaded almost to the brim. The last declared route for the vessel began on Sep 11, when it departed from th port of Tuzla. Later, it was at an anchorage off Samsun, from where it departed on Sep 19 enroute to Constanța. The vessel made an intermediate anchorage stop in Samsun, departing on Sep 19 and arriving in Constanța on Sep 22. On Oct 3 it was located at 43.21024, 40.05353. The vessel had not transmitted its current destination and was 15 kilometres off Sochi on Oct 5. On Feb 12, 2026, Ukraine had imposed sanctions on the shadow tanker due to suspicions that it was being used to circumvent sanctions against Russia. The vessel is owned by Rio Enterprises SA, a company registered in the Marshall Islands. Its operations and chartering have been handled through international operator Navig8 Group, based in Singapore, and Greek ship management companies, including the Hellenic Tankers Co. It was built in 2004. Until 2012, the vessel sailed under the Singapore flag, then it was transferred to the Panamanian flag, and in 2023 to Liberia. The tanker had repeatedly transported oil from Russian ports between 2024 and 2026, most frequently from Ust-Luga, but also from Novorossiysk and Taman. Its listed destinations included India, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Tankertrackers.com initially identified the affected tanker as the 'Sphere' (IMO: 9323974), which was later corrected. Reports with photos and video: https://kyivindependent.com/shadow-fleet-tanker-reportedly-ablaze-near-russian-port-city-sochi/ https://odessa-journal.com/oil-tanker-linked-to-russias-shadow-fleet-catches-fire-near-sochi https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/fire-erupts-on-liberia-flagged-oil-tanker-near-russia-s-sochi-authorities/4080163 https://x.com/agents_media/status/2107520718350975421

On Oct 5, 2026, the 'GRE-34-Emily Sophia', once based in Greetsiel, which had operated primarily out of Zoutkamp and fished mainly in Dutch waters, was hoisted ashore in Kampen ti be broken up. The owner had continued fishing until August, and the vessel sailed to Kampen in September. On Oct 5, a tug maneuvered the trawler toward the crane. First, the booms, foremast, and aft mast were cut through using hydraulic shears; then, the trawler was hoisted out of the water and moved toward its final resting place at Hoeben Kampen. Two ground ropes were also removed from the vessel beforehand. The cutter was originally built as the 'WR-147 Amsteldiep' and subsequently operated under the registration numbers ST-19, BOR-2, and NG-9. She was assigned the number GRE-34 in 2014, and it was under this designation that the vessel has reached the end of its service life. Photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mhPSpZLn/

A Russian Naval convoy has docked in Tobruk, consisting of the 'Anastasiia' and the 'Yuriy Arshenevskiy' (IMO: 8406705), escorted by the Baltic Fleet Ropucha-class landing ship 'Aleksandr Shabalin'. In an attempt to conceal their route, the flotilla had switched off their AIS transponders during the Mediterranean transit. Despite the AIS blackout, satellite imagery from Sep 13, 2026, confirmed the arrival of heavy military assets on the docks. The cargo included Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), and Ural logistics trucks. The sumaritimwere accompanied by Russian military instructors training Libyan National Army (LNA) personnel. An Italian Air Force P-72A tracked the flotilla in the central Mediterranean earlier in the week, while a US Army ARTEMIS II ISR aircraft conducted active surveillance off the coast of Tobruk during the unloading phase.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the charterer and operator of the 'MSC Elsa 3', which sank off the Kerala coast on May 25, 2025, has informed the Kerala High Court that it agreed to bear the cost of a multibeam survey of the wreck and the wrecksite. The company’s counsel made the submission in response to PILs filed by former MP T.N. Prathapan and others, seeking adequate compensation for the fishing community and other stakeholders following the sinking of the vessel. The directorate general of maritime administration (DGMA) had previously informed the High Court that two Indian agencies, namely the C-Track Surveys and the Fugro Survey India Pvt. Ltd., had been identified to conduct an independent multibeam and side-scan survey. Extending its full support to the move, the company agreed to the appointment of C-Track Surveys to conduct the survey. The company has also sought a direction to the director general of shipping to appoint C-Track Surveys to conduct the survey. It further suggested that the scope of work be jointly formulated by the company and the DGMA and provided to C-Track Surveys, and that the data gathered during the survey be made available to both for further analysis.

Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

The 'Lunes Santo' and 'Scombrus II' broke lose from their moorings at the North Pier in the port of Mar del Plata on Oct 8, 2026, amid strong winds and were threatened to crash against the rocks of the seawall. A large-scale rescue operation, involving port authorities, the Argentine Coast Guard and private tug operators was required to secure the two ships again. The 'Lunes Santo', a former deep-sea freezer trawler, previously licensed for shrimp fishing, was being prepared for scrapping or as a potential artificial reef for a diving school. The 'Scombrus II' had also been inactive in the port for an extended period, awaiting removal. Report with photo and video: https://pescare.com.ar/mar-del-plata-dos-pesqueros-cortaron-amarras-y-obligaron-a-intervenir-en-la-escollera-norte/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TakCT-FQja4

The 'Scarlet Lady' broke away from its berth at the port of Rhodes after several mooring lines snapped on the evening of Sep 30, 2026. The ship’s gangway fell into the water as the vessel moved away from the pier shortly after 8:15 p.m. Strong waves caused several lines securing the cruise ship to break, and the 'Scarlet Lady' started to drift across the harbour and allided with the catamaran ship 'King of Rhodes' (IMO: 101089) and two boats.  The Rhodes Central Port Authority responded to the incident, while available tugs were placed on standby. The captain maneuvered the 'Scarlet Lady' under its own power and returned the ship to its mooring position. No injuries or marine pollution were reported. The ship left Rhodes again one day late on Oct 1 enroute to Thira with an ETA as of Oct 3. It had arrived in Rhodes early due to weather conditions. The incident occurred amidst adverse weather conditions and rough seas in the area. The damage to the 'King of Rhodes' was estimated to be around 400000 Euros, and the owner filed a legal applicationto seize the 'Scarlet Lady'. The cruise ship, however, escaped an arrest, as the P&I insurer stepped in with a letter of guarantee to cover potential liabilities. A former court case has been scheduled in Rhodes for Feb 22, 2027, to resolve the dispute. Reports with photos and video: https://crew-center.com/video-scarlet-lady-gangway-falls-water-after-mooring-lines-snap https://www.neakriti.gr/koinonia/2202980_rodos-thriler-sto-limani-me-scarlet-lady-espasan-oi-kaboi-kai-kroyazieroploio

The Bulgarian Navy has sent the frigate 'Verni' and a helicopter of Krumovo to the area of the Black Sea, where the 'Able' and 'Alfa Watan' were attacked. On Oct 8, the 'Verdi' established the location and condition of the 'Able' and planned to inspect it, including for dangerous debris. However, an exact timetable for further actions has not been announced, while the ship was drifting 55 nautical miles northeast of Cape Emine. The vessel's engine room was flooded after a strike by a sea drone in the stern, and it had a significant trim to the stern. On Oct 7, Bulgaria had called off the search for the crew of the 'Alfa Watan', among them nine Syrians and one Egyptian, prompting Syria to send a diplomatic note to Bulgaria requesting an independent investigation into the incident and an explanation as to why the search for survivors was called off less than 24 hours after the attack. Kosta Andreev, the chairman of the volunteer association BULSAR and former deputy commander of the Navy, stated on Oct 9 that the crew’s chances of survival were extremely small after the first hours. The duration of the search was determined according to the specific area, weather conditions and the probability of finding living people. The water in the area of the incident was estimated to be around 18-20 degrees. The 'Alfa Watan' sank at a water depth of about 2000 metres, so that that specialised equipment, including remotely operated devices, would be needed for the investigation. Before the start of the operation, preliminary studies must be carried out, the location of the sinking must be specified, and a suitable vessel and equipment must be provided. There was no pollution of the sea water with oil products near the Bulgarian coast after the incidents. A special inspection was carried out by order of the Environment Minister Rositsa Karamfilova. Sea water samples were taken in the areas of Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol. The purpose of the inspection was to establish the current state of the sea waters in these areas and the presence of any possible pollution related to the incident. Ukraine’s Defence Forces conducted no operations in that area of the sea, and the attack was regarded as another part of Russia’s effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation. The Ukrainian Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that the attack was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones.

Beached at Gadani 09.10.26 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2882982102075208&set=pcb.10167557671713943

One of the two bodies recovered on Oct 7 from the seas surrounding the wreckage the 'Filo Jet' off the coast of Kyrenia was identified as 12-year-old Miray Bicer on Oct 8. Bicer, who hailed from the town of Reyhanli, which is located in Turkey’s Hatay province, between the Turkish Mediterranean coastal city of Iskenderun and Syria’s second city, Aleppo, had been on board the ferry alongside her five-year-old brother Asaf, her mother Ayten, and her father Hayri. After Asaf Bicer’s body was recovered from the wreckage last week, the funeral was held in Reyhanli on Oct 1. Ayten Bicer and Hayri Bicer both survived the accident. When a suitcase fell on top of the mother, her daughter was forced from her grasp. She had grabbed her daughter’s foot, but her shoes, coated in engine oil from the overturned boat, slipped through her hands. After the wreck was located at a depth of 554 metres, to reach the bodies believed to be inside, the underwater engineering company Derinsu had used an underwater cutting tool to open sections of the wreck around its corridor. During the first week, efforts focused entirely on the wreck itself. After clearing objects from the debris, the team recovered the first body- Once they were confident that no further bodies remained inside the wreck, the team began scanning the seabed across the surrounding area, extending to a point approximately 2.3 kilometres north of the location where the vessel was last seen. Of the 14 people on the list provided to the team, 13 bodies could be recovered and handed over to the authorities. Conducting the search operations at such depths required advanced technology, while highlighting the experience of the engineers and remotely operated vehicle pilots involved. The most recently recovered body was found at a depth of approximately 650 metres. These were the deepest bodies ever recovered in Turkish maritime history. The team had also recovered the vessel’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) and handed it over to the authorities. Two days were left in the search operation, and it was hoped to locate and recover the final body during this time. The operation had involved scanning approximately 5.5 billion cubic metres of seawater using water-column data, 10 million square metres of seabed and 1.6 million square metres of visual area. The operation was continued around the clock using both the robot’s camera footage and sonar images. A total of 28 people died in the disaster.

Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has failed to sell nine seized vessels located in Izmail, the 'Rondo', 'Svir', 'Avangard', 'Volgo Balt 225', 'Omskiy 6', all flying the flag of the Russian Federation, the 'Volgo Balt 193', flying the flag of the Union of the Comoros, and 'Omskiy 132', 'Naviger 2' and 'Volgo Balt 244', all flying the flag of Palau, after an auction scheduled for Oct 8, 2026, attracted no bidders. The fleet was offered as a single lot with a starting price of UAH 151.66 million (excluding VAT). It comprises eight dry cargo vessels and one oil tanker built between 1970 and 1988. Most of the vessels were in unsatisfactory technical condition following prolonged periods of inactivity. Some have also sustained damage from Russian attacks, adding to the potential cost of restoring them to service. In addition to the purchase price, a prospective buyer would have been required to pay approximately UAH 58.4 million in customs duties and cover further expenses related to repairs, maintenance, berthing and vessel registration. The auction’s failure left the future of the nine-vessel fleet uncertain.

On Oct 6, 2026, the 'Tulun' transited the Bosphorus, enroute from Tuzla, with anti drone netting erected around the wheelhouse and, despite of these measures, visible damages to funnel and lifeboat due to a drone impact. The freighter was escorted by a Coastal Safety tug on its way towards Istanbul.

The cruise ship 'Scarlet Lady' (IMO: 9804801) broke away from its berth at the port of Rhodes after several mooring lines snapped on the evening of Sep 30, 2026. The ship’s gangway fell into the water as the vessel moved away from the pier shortly after 8:15 p.m. Strong waves caused several lines securing the cruise ship to break, and the 'Scarlet Lady' started to drift across the harbour and allided with the catamaran ship 'King of Rhodes' and two boats.  The Rhodes Central Port Authority responded to the incident, while available tugs were placed on standby. The captain maneuvered the 'Scarlet Lady' under its own power and returned the ship to its mooring position. No injuries or marine pollution were reported. The ship left Rhodes again one day late on Oct 1 enroute to Thira with an ETA as of Oct 3. It had arrived in Rhodes early due to weather conditions. The incident occurred amidst adverse weather conditions and rough seas in the area. The damage to the 'King of Rhodes' was estimated to be around 400000 Euros, and the owner filed a legal applicationto seize the 'Scarlet Lady'. The cruise ship, however, escaped an arrest, as the P&I insurer stepped in with a letter of guarantee to cover potential liabilities. A former court case has been scheduled in Rhodes for Feb 22, 2027, to resolve the dispute. Reports with photos and video: https://crew-center.com/video-scarlet-lady-gangway-falls-water-after-mooring-lines-snap https://www.neakriti.gr/koinonia/2202980_rodos-thriler-sto-limani-me-scarlet-lady-espasan-oi-kaboi-kai-kroyazieroploio

The 'Anastasiia', operating under US (OFAC) sanctions, has executed a sudden U-turn south of Sweden, while heading east before abruptly reversing course, and as of Oct 9 at 06:45 a.m. UTC, the ship was on a 277° heading at a slow speed of 5.1 knots, a profile consistent with open-water loitering. The ship's AIS destination field was completely blank. It had departed from Kaliningrad on Aug 26, 44 days ago. Operating for a month and a half without a declared destination was to be regarded as highly irregular for standard commercial transit.

Beached at Alang 08.10.26 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163560874805036&set=gm.10167558136848943&idorvanity=6884293942