Turkey: Security forces neutralize naval mine in Black Sea March 28

Event

Turkish security forces neutralized a naval mine off Igneada, near the border with Bulgaria, March 28. Following the incident, Turkish fishing vessels have been prohibited from operating in the Black Sea until further notice. The sightings of further mines are possible in the coming weeks, resulting in localized disruptions to shipping.

A similar incident occurred March 26, when a mine was spotted close to the Bosphorus strait northwest of Istanbul. The strait was closed to large vessels for several hours while security forces responded and neutralized the mine.

Context

The incidents come following a warning from the Russian FSB intelligence agency March 19 that 420 Ukrainian naval mines had come loose following a storm in the Black Sea, with the mines likely to drift southwards towards the Bosphorus. The Turkish Samsun NAVTEX station subsequently issued a warning to seafarers regarding the risk of mines, while other nations have warned their merchant fleets to avoid the area. The Turkish military has stated that the provenance of the mines remains unclear, but that coordination was ongoing with Russia and Ukraine regarding the recent incidents.

Advice

Exercise caution and maintain an increase level of vigilance if transiting or shipping freight through the Black Sea in the coming days. Reconfirm routes with maritime authorities and keep abreast with regional developments affecting maritime operations.