The Turkish shipping company Besiktas Shipping is discontinuing all its activities in Russia. The company announced the decision in a statement, describing it as a response to the attack on one of its ships.
On November 27, four explosions occurred on board the tanker “Mersin”. At the time, the Panama-flagged ship was anchored off the coast of Senegal near the capital Dakar.
According to media reports, water entered the engine room as a result of the explosions. The crew remained unharmed. Measures were taken immediately to prevent possible environmental pollution. Tugs, oil booms and patrol boats were deployed.
The cause of the explosions is currently unknown. According to various media reports, an accident is considered unlikely. There are speculations that it could have been a targeted attack on the so-called shadow fleet.
The Turkish shipping company reacted to the incident this week and published a statement in which it announced that it was withdrawing completely from the Russian business.
“In light of recent developments affecting maritime security in the region, we would like to provide an update on our operational stance. We have decided to cease all shipping activities involving Russian interests. With immediate effect, we will no longer operate Russia-related voyages,” the shipping company announced.
Throughout its operations, Besiktas Shipping has strictly adhered to all international sanctions regimes and ensured full compliance with the G7/EU price cap mechanism and all relevant trade restrictions. It has always emphasized the importance of operating transparently and legally compliant within the global regulatory framework.
However, the security situation in the region has worsened considerably. Following a comprehensive assessment, it was concluded that the risks for the ships and their crews were no longer acceptable. “As the safety of our personnel and assets is our top priority, we are discontinuing all such operations,” it said.
The 183 m long and 32 m wide tanker “Mersin” is currently still off the coast of Senegal. It is considered stable and safe and, according to the shipping company, poses no danger to the environment. The 22 crew members were evacuated unharmed.
