Hull Breach Leaves Russian Cargo Ship Bound for Turkey Struggling to Stay Afloat in the Azov Sea

Russian Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying 3,000 tons of corn is sinking in the Azov Sea after suffering a hull breach near the port of Azov in Russia’s Rostov region, Russian media outlet Baza reported on February 20.

The vessel, named “Pavlo Grabovsky,” measures 114 meters in length and 14 meters in width. It departed from Rostov and was en route to Samsun, Turkey, when it sustained damage to its hull on February 16, causing it to take on water.

Despite the severity of the situation, the crew did not send a distress signal, opting instead to request permission to dock at the port of Azov for repairs. However, the vessel remains stranded until water levels rise, as attempting to move it now could result in running aground due to shallow conditions.

In response, Russian authorities dispatched two icebreakers, “Kapitan Demidov” and “Kapitan Chudinov,” to aid the stricken ship. The full extent of the damage remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the vessel can be salvaged.

Earlier, the Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major sank in international waters on December 23 following an explosion in its engine room.

The incident occurred between Águilas, Spain (Murcia), and Oran, Algeria.