MARITIME ACCIDENT: Russian ferry hit by fleeing cargo ship

By Our Correspondent

A Russian cargo ferry SLAVYANIN and general cargo ship NEW RAOUF collided at around 0150 EEST November 8, 2023 in Black sea some 80 nm E of Varna, Bulgaria, while sailing on intersected courses, with NEW RAOUF having to give way to SLAVYANIN, according to FleetMon.

It stated: “Russian ferry suffered hull breaches in ballast tanks areas, 3 tanks reportedly were flooded. The ship, which is serving Varna – Kavkaz (Russia) line, returned to Varna, while NEW RAOUF, rather surprisingly, fled the scene and steamed to Turkey Straits, where she’s already awaited by alerted Turkish authorities.

“The ship tried, obviously, to tamper with AIS log and track, between 2340 EEST Nov 7 and 0140 EEST Nov 5 positions, and positioning itself somewhere in Sevastopol Naval Base, Crimea. Interesting. She’s bound for Egypt.”