On November 27, the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Mersin experienced four external explosions while anchored near Dakar, Senegal. This incident is part of a series of recent events affecting ships in international waters.
Besiktas Shipping, the technical manager of the vessel, confirmed that the explosions occurred around 23:45 UTC, leading to seawater flooding the engine room.
The company assured that “the situation was quickly brought under control” and reported that all crew members were safe, with no injuries, fatalities, or pollution reported.
“The vessel is safe and stable, and it does not pose any navigational or safety risks to its surroundings,” declared Besiktas Shipping, noting that they are “cooperating fully with authorized insurers and Senegalese authorities” to handle the incident and assist with ongoing investigations.
At the time of the incident, the M/T Mersin was carrying up to 30,000 tons of fuel. Senegalese authorities promptly activated a crisis response, coordinating actions between the Senegalese Navy, the National Maritime Affairs Agency, and the Port Authority of Dakar.
The Port Authority of Dakar outlined key measures including assessing ways to stabilize the vessel, exploring procedures for safely offloading the fuel, and deploying an anti-pollution boom around the tanker as a precaution. The French Navy also sent a vessel to assist in operations and evaluate the situation.
Images shared online showed the stern of the vessel nearly at the waterline. All crew members were safely rescued following the incident.
The timing of the Mersin incident is notable, occurring close to separate attacks on two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea. The vessels Kairos and Virat were targeted by Ukrainian naval drones on November 27-28 while heading to Russian ports, although no link between the incidents has been confirmed.
Shipping data company Kpler noted that the Mersin has a history of transporting Russian oil.
The cause of the explosions on the Mersin is still being investigated by technical and forensic teams working with Senegalese authorities and insurance representatives.