Reference: Al Jazeera / Kyiv Post– The Ukrainian Navy rescued 17 Filipino seafarers from the dry cargo ship VENTURO after a Russian strike disabled the vessel off the coast of the Odesa region. One seafarer aboard was lost, whereas three were hurt and taken to hospital.
The Ukrainian Navy said the strike damaged the ship and disabled its propulsion, leaving it stranded at sea. Russian attacks on the surrounding coastline were still continuing as naval boat crews set out to reach the drifting vessel. All 17 survivors were taken ashore.
VENTURO is a Supramax bulk carrier flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda with a deadweight capacity of up to 57,000 tonnes. The ship plys between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and was on this trip sailing from the Bulgarian port of Varna to Sulina, at the mouth of the Danube in Romania.
The attack was a coordinated strike on port infrastructure along Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, regional authorities said. The attack also damaged buildings, storage tanks and warehouses.
As first responders rushed to the scene of the initial assault, Russian troops launched a second attack and destroyed specialised rescue gear. The responders had taken cover before the follow up hit and escaped injury.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said it had hit the vessel VENTURO, describing the attack as a drone strike and saying the ships in the area were transporting military cargo. That claim has not been independently verified, and Ukrainian officials have called the strike an attack on civilian shipping. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed which weapon was used.
Following Ukrainian attacks on tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Azov and Black Seas, Russia increased strikes on Ukrainian maritime infrastructure.
Filipino crews are at a major risk in this corridor. Philippine nationals comprise a large share of the world’s merchant fleet and have been on just about every casualty list from the Black Sea since attacks on commercial vessels resumed.
Two of four Filipino sailors injured when the tanker M/V Blue was struck while transiting the Black Sea were repatriated to Manila last week.
The operational picture has tightened for owners and managers trading into Danube and Ukrainian ports. The ship that was hit and lost its propulsion cannot leave the area with its own means. The subsequent strike on rescue equipment in Odessa indicates that the response phase is now fraught with risks similar to the original event.
The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers has already facilitated repatriation and welfare assistance for seafarers caught up in attacks in the Black Sea.
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Ukraine only attack well know Russian flaged vessels.. Russia insted attack any vessel that they think (no proof at all) are moving stuff to Ukraine. But just thinking…Maybe Russia is upset with us..Nahh no way. Oh wait..Alfanero..No, no, no.. too much coincidence. The original owner is from where? Hmm…I don’t remmeber the city where the Owner live..but GB you mess with high profiles real wealthy Russians..You are a walking dead person..Go close to their country and you will see what is going to happens to you and your family members. One thing about this russian is, no matters what a courts rules. If you mess with them..FAFO. Don’t blame Russian now, we mess with them first. They were doing their crap with Ukraine over there, is their problem. But we think we are BIG Power country and jump to touch one of their asset overseas thinking we are going to be untouchable…because International laws bla bla bla.
Ever watch the movie Lord Of War? There is a scene in that movie where the coast guard suspects the ship Nicholas Cage is on is a gun smuggling ship….They changed the ship name ASAP and used a dutch flag to confuse the coastguard….I believe the crew used our flag to seem as peaceful as possible but it didn’t work…
Generally news is used to turn the minds of people in one direction or another, or as a distraction. It’s just a manipulative tool nowadays. How can we guard against being manipulated?
@Ann Marie – I agree with you. There’s always a murder, kidnapping or earthquake happening somewhere. They just choose what they want to present
The Russians aren’t crazy. They would have done their investigations before attacking the ship. It’s been a while now this same ship has been transporting arms to conflict zones. Remember couple of months ago, this same ship was taking arms to the Israeli- Palestinian war?
Do your research my people. This has nothing to do with the Alfa Nero boat.
Somebody need to explain to me the process of registering ships under country’s name/flag
@ Ann Marie Ann Marie Ann Marie Ann Marie
That is way journalism has always been and will always be especially these days where the news articles flood your social media pages.
It’s really up to us to be self educated and not depend on one new site.
@ Smith
Seriously your comment made me laugh.
So Russia attached a ship that is NOT owned by Antigua, has no business in Antigua, not transporting anything for Antigua, but only flying a flag all because of Alfo Nero?
Ok that was my Monday laugh!!!
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