Turkish grain ship Royad Mammadov
New Delhi: Three Indian nationals were among the crew of the cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov, which caught fire and sank in the Black Sea on Monday, killing two people. The Indian embassy in Romania said all three Indians were safe, though one was injured.
The embassy initially said it had received information about an attack on the vessel. Two foreign nationals were reported dead, while some crew members were injured and taken to hospitals in Romania. The mission said it was in touch with Romanian authorities to confirm the safety of the Indian crew.
In a later update, the embassy said it had spoken to all three Indians. One was injured and receiving medical treatment. The mission was also in contact with the hospital and said it was providing all possible assistance.
Romania's interior ministry said its coast guard was alerted around 11am local time after the ship caught fire in the country's exclusive economic zone, about 30 nautical miles south of Sfantul Gheorghe in Tulcea County. Eleven crew members were rescued, while a helicopter airlifted the injured. Two bodies were also recovered.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said two Russian drones struck the vessel, which he described as a civilian ship carrying corn in neutral waters. He said the captain was killed and the fate of another crew member was still being established. Romanian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire.
Ship-tracking data show that the vessel, built in 2006, was flying the St Kitts and Nevis flag. It had last called at Ukraine's Izmail port and was sailing to Ravenna in Italy. Zelensky said the ship was Turkish-owned.
Turkey has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to ensure the safety of civilian shipping in the Black Sea.
All about MV Royad Mammadov
MV Royad Mammadov is a 2006-built general cargo ship, measuring about 140 metres in length, with a deadweight capacity of roughly 6,933 tonnes. It sails under the St Kitts and Nevis flag and has reportedly been Turkish-owned, with the vessel previously operating under names including Mir Jalal Pashayev and Angora 4.
