Loss Prevention Advice
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Three crew members were seriously injured after the roll-on/roll-off cargo ship Nadezhda was struck by a drone near Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Turkey’s maritime authority said on 3 August.
The vessel was sailing from Novorossiysk to Turkey’s Samsun port when it was attacked about 20 nautical miles offshore. All 22 crew members were evacuated to Russia, including the three injured sailors, while a fire continued to burn in the ship’s bow.
The identities and nationalities of those injured were not disclosed, and it remained unclear who was responsible for the strike.
The incident comes amid ongoing Russian and Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, with both sides accusing each other of targeting ships carrying commercial cargo, including agricultural products.
The attacks have increased security concerns for shipping in the region.
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Over the past week, 28 July-3 August, one incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
One CAT 4 incident of armed robbery against ships2 in Asia. The incident occurred onboard a general cargo ship while underway at Charlie Anchorage, Chittagong Port Area, Bangladesh on 29 June 2026. Some ship stores were stolen.
Area of concern
Ships are advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look-out while transiting the areas of concern or anchoring at ports and anchorages; and to report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal State. The Centre also urges the coastal States to increase patrols/surveillance in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents reported to them, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and the criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators.
Situation update
For the 6th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020.
In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts further downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ to ‘LOW’, meaning ‘No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not expected to occur’.
In its Advisory on 14 Feb 2025 advised ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”.
Recommendations
Ship masters and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.
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On 5 August, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement claimed it had carried out a ballistic missile attack on the Saudi oil tanker Wafa in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the vessel was struck with several ballistic missiles but did not specify when the attack took place. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the claim. Saree said the Wafa was the eighth tanker targeted since the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on 22 July.
29 Saudi ships had either been prevented from transiting the Red Sea or forced to turn back, adding that the group would continue and escalate attacks on Saudi oil tankers as part of its “blockade-for-blockade” strategy.
On 4 August, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a “sensitive target” at Najran Airport in southern Saudi Arabia. Saree said the attack was carried out in response to alleged repeated Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah, warning that any future violations would prompt further retaliation.
Watch relevant video, at the following link.
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Rescue boat drills are essential for emergency preparedness, but they also remain one of the most hazardous routine operations at sea, making strict adherence to inspection and safety procedures critical.
an investigation into an uncontrolled rescue boat fall during a drill aboard a tanker, highlighting the serious risks associated with routine emergency preparedness exercises.
The accident occurred during a rescue boat launching drill when the boat suddenly descended after a hidden technical defect in the launching appliance’s winch-unit freewheel module (one-way clutch) caused it to fail. The defect, linked to corrosion from ambient air and moisture inside the winch, resulted in three crew members being injured.
The findings serve as a stark reminder that, while rescue boat drills are vital for maintaining emergency response readiness, they remain among the most hazardous operations carried out on board.
Echoing the report’s conclusions, Japan P&I Club warned that failing to carry out pre-inspection routines and follow the safety procedures set out in a vessel’s Safety Management System (SMS) can have serious consequences.