Cargo Vessel Volgo-Balt 213 Runs Aground in Mudanya, Turkey

On July 14, the general cargo vessel the Volgo-Balt 213 ran aground in Mudanya, a coastal town in Bursa, Turkey.

The 3,500 dwt vessel, carrying 2,200 tons of animal feed from Russia, had stopped at Gemlik port in Turkey. At approximately 2:00am local time, the ship ran aground just 20 feet from shore, causing damage to its bow.

The Volgo-Balt 213 has 12 crew members on board, including nine from Azerbaijan and three from Ukraine, all of whom were reported safe. According to Turkish media, the grounding incident occurred after the officer on duty, referred to as the third captain, fell asleep. However, the Turkish Maritime Agencies have not yet confirmed this as the cause.

On July 16, Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety announced that two days of efforts by the crew to refloat the vessel had been unsuccessful. A rescue operation involving divers and marine vessels from the Directorate General will be initiated to remove and refloat the stranded ship.

Built in 1978, the Volgo-Balt 213 is a cargo ship registered under the Panamanian flag and owned by a Turkish company.