Khaberni - The Turkish Directorate General of Navigation, under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, announced today (Tuesday), the stranding of the Turkish cargo ship «Happy Aras» in the southern part of the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea.
The Turkish authorities revealed that the giant cargo ship ran aground after it began to «drift» before colliding with the shore or shallow bottom just south of the strait, in an area close to the Russian coast near Novorossiysk.
According to the official Turkish statement, all crew members, totaling 11 people, including 3 Turks, were evacuated in coordination with the Turkish main Search and Rescue Center , and it was confirmed that all crew members were in good health after the eviction.
The Turkish authorities indicated that water began entering the ship after it ran aground, raising concerns about the leakage of fuel or other materials into the waters of the Black Sea, especially as if the leakage of fuel or oils is confirmed, it could cause additional pollution in an environmentally sensitive area, especially after the disaster of 2024.
Turkish media revealed that there were no reported injuries or direct distress calls from the crew before evacuation, and the causes of the incident, which may include adverse weather conditions, a technical fault in the engines, or a steering issue while navigating the narrow and busy strait, are under investigation.
Kerch Strait is a vital waterway connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, and at its narrowest point, it is only about 3-4 kilometers wide, with varying depths and strong currents, and a large volume of Russian, Ukrainian, and international trade passes through it, especially grains, fuel, and raw materials.
The strait has been geopolitically and environmentally sensitive for years, as it witnessed in December 2024 a major environmental disaster after the sinking of two Russian oil tankers, part of the «shadow fleet», which caused massive spillages of heavy fuel onto the Russian and Ukrainian shores.
The strait experiences intense maritime traffic despite Russian-Ukrainian tensions, with repeated Russian restrictions on passage, intensive inspections, lingering military risks, and the Turkish Directorate General of Navigation closely monitors any incident in the area because Turkish ships constitute a notable percentage of the commercial movement there, especially in the transport of grains and food materials.
