🚢 Tanzanian Cargo Ship Rapid Runs Aground off Turkey’s Kefken Coast

On September 18, the Tanzania-flagged general cargo ship Rapid ran aground near the rocky area known as Pink Rocks, off Kefken in northwestern Turkey. The vessel, which was transporting a load of plaster from Turkey to the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, had seven crew members on board at the time of the accident.

 

According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the grounding was reported at 05:54 local time. Emergency units from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety (KEGM) quickly launched a coordinated response, deploying the fast rescue craft KEGM-10, a shore team, and a helicopter 🚁. All crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.

 

Initial findings suggest the ship may have struck a reef while sailing too close to shore. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the grounding.

 

Built in 1991, MV Rapid has a deadweight capacity of 2,620 tonnes, measuring 81.2 meters in length and 11.33 meters in beam.

 

📌 According to MarineTraffic data, the vessel had been operating primarily in the Black Sea region in recent months before the incident.

 

Source: MarineTraffic

Picture: Virahaber