All seven crewmembers of a Turkish-flagged tugboat have been reported safe following a collision during a towing operation in the Black Sea.
The incident occurred on November 4, 2026, near Neptun, Romania, when the tugboat Ayaz Bey collided with the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged tanker Mentor amid adverse weather conditions. According to the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ayaz Bey and another tugboat, Ramazan Bey, were towing Mentor toward Turkey. The tanker had previously sustained damage in Ukrainian waters near the port of Odesa and had no crew onboard.
During the night, adverse weather caused the towing connections to break. Although the connections were subsequently reestablished, Ayaz Bey experienced propulsion difficulties and collided with the tanker.
At approximately 04:20 local time, the tugboat transmitted a MAYDAY distress call, prompting an emergency response coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Constanța.
Romanian authorities deployed two vessels from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including units from the Coast Guard and the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The rescue vessel SAR Ares, operated by the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea (ARSVOM), also participated in the operation.
Strong winds and rough seas complicated rescue efforts, preventing the use of aerial assets. In a subsequent update, the ministry confirmed that three crewmembers had been transferred to the Dutch-flagged tugboat Odin for transport to Mangalia. The remaining four declined evacuation, stating that they did not require assistance.
The Romanian Naval Authority subsequently confirmed that all seven crewmembers were safe, with no casualties reported. The damaged tugboat was stabilized and anchored safely near Mangalia, while Mentor was reported drifting in Bulgarian waters.
Although initial reports indicated that Ayaz Bey had sunk, authorities later clarified that the tugboat remained afloat.