Loss Prevention Advice
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A Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel has sunk off Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, a week after Ukrainian officials said it was struck by Russian forces.
The Ukrainian ports authority said the Turkish-owned bulk carrier Golden Leo sank near the port after suffering severe damage while transiting a Ukrainian-supervised maritime corridor towards Romania. Nine crew members were killed in the attack, while eight others were evacuated safely.
The vessel was struck on July 19 shortly after departing Chornomorsk with a cargo of corn. Ukraine’s Navy and Air Force said Russian forces launched three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles at the ship, with one missile hitting the starboard-side superstructure and causing a fire.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has issued a security advisory for Indian nationals seeking employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea region, warning of heightened risks from missile and drone attacks.
The advisory, issued on July 26, said the security situation in the region remains “highly volatile” and noted an increase in attacks on merchant vessels resulting in the deaths of five Indian seafarers.
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An investigation report into the fatal fall of a bosun from a bulk carrier’s main deck during pilot ladder preparations.
The incident
On 14 October 2025, a bosun died after falling from the main deck of a bulk carrier while the crew were preparing the pilot ladder following the vessel’s departure from Sweden. A nearby pilot boat attempted to recover him from the water but was unsuccessful. His body was recovered from the seabed the following day.
Survivability
It is almost certain that the bosun’s injuries to his head and torso resulted from him striking the lower platform of the accommodation ladder as he fell to the water. These injuries were not life-threatening in themselves, although may have rendered him unconscious, and it was almost certain that he was alive when he entered the water.
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Renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have drawn condemnation from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as escalating security risks threaten a critical maritime corridor and raise concerns over further disruption to global trade routes.
The attacks resumed on July 22, with four vessels reportedly hit or affected during the latest wave of incidents. In particular, according to Windward, ENCELIA (IMO 9240172) was struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia on July 22. LAYLA (IMO 9336098) is claimed to have been hit by the Houthis, but unconfirmed, and tracking has been offline since July 15, last seen entering Saudi waters near the Yemen border.
In addition, NCC MASA (IMO 9688336), a Saudi-owned oil products tanker of 183 meters carrying approximately 215,100 barrels of diesel according to Vortexa, was struck in the Red Sea on July 24, suffering minor hull damage. The vessel later reached its destination with all crew safe. The tanker had been dark since July 19, departing Yanbu around July 18.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the renewed attacks, describing them as “indefensible” and warning that they threaten seafarers, international shipping security, the marine environment and global supply chains.
He stressed that seafarers are civilians carrying out essential work and urged ship operators to conduct thorough risk assessments before transiting the region.
The IMO chief also renewed calls for the immediate and unconditional release of seafarers still being held captive following piracy attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, saying their safety remains a responsibility under international law.
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An oil tanker reportedly exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on 26 July after striking a sea mine, according to multiple Iranian state and semi-official media outlets, which claimed the vessel had deviated from a navigation route designated by Tehran.
According to international news sources, Iranian reports did not identify the tanker, its flag or ownership, and provided no information on casualties or the extent of the damage. Iranian authorities said they had repeatedly warned vessels to use only approved transit routes through the strategic waterway, arguing that ships leaving the designated corridor would bear the consequences.
Senior Iranian officials have maintained that Tehran has the right to regulate navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that conditions in the waterway will not return to pre-conflict arrangements.
Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it intercepted at least six vessels in the past 24 hours after they attempted what it described as “unauthorized” crossings, firing warning shots before forcing the ships to turn back.
The IRGC also said it had stopped another four vessels the previous day. These claims have not been independently verified.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States following recent military exchanges and renewed disputes over navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz.