A sanctioned US tanker was struck by a container ship near Istanbul on Friday, March 7, 2025, causing structural damage and a leak from one of its ballast tanks.
The vessel, Mia, part of the so-called shadow fleet, was anchored approximately five miles offshore when it was hit by the Turkish-owned Orita. The incident was captured on video and aired on Turkish television.
The Mia, a 149,686 dwt tanker, was stationary when the Orita, a 130-meter long, 8,000 dwt containership, made contact with it while maneuvering.
The Orita, built in 2005 and registered in Panama, is managed by a Turkish company. AIS tracking data showed that the containership was on its way to Sulina, Romania, but it has since been held at anchor after the incident.
Eyewitnesses say that Orita struck the Mia while turning. After which, Mia suffered a puncture in one of its ballast tanks, leading to a discharge of contaminated water.
Beylikdüzü’ndeki gemi kazasına ilişkin yeni görüntüler ortaya çıktıhttps://t.co/eExW6bjxPx pic.twitter.com/h5eKaSQ9DG
— İhlas Haber Ajansı (@ihacomtr) March 7, 2025
While the Turkish Coast Guard confirmed that the leakage was not oil, it was still considered a pollutant.
The first response vessel to arrive was the tug Efes 10, operated by Uzmar from Marport. It secured the area while authorities assessed the situation. Later, the large tug Rescue 2, from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety, joined the efforts.
The crew of Mia attempted an emergency patch to stop the leakage from the damaged ballast tank. Meanwhile, the Turkish Coast Guard began examining Orita to determine the extent of the impact on the container ship.
Per reports, the Orita sustained visible damage from the collision.
The ownership and operational background of Mia is still unknown. The tanker is registered under a Seychelles-based company, has no listed management, and has not undergone an inspection since 2014.
The US sanctioned the vessel in 2024, claiming that it was falsely registered under Guyana’s flag. Guyanese authorities denied any connection, stating that their registry is closed and does not include the vessel.
US officials suspect that Mia has operated under different identities in the past, possibly using names such as Magus and Freedom. No official statement has been made by the Turkish authorities.
References: rbc, eadaily
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