The Razouk, a Comoros-flagged cargo ship previously reported damaged in a Black Sea attack, has gone aground near the northern edge of the Bosphorus Strait during a storm. On 3 February 2026, Turkey’s Directorate General of Coastal Safety said it received a medical evacuation request and removed the ship’s captain using a breeches buoy system, handing him over to shoreside medical teams.
The 8,749-dwt vessel was driven ashore late on 1 February 2026 near Sariyer, close to Istanbul’s Bosphorus approach. Turkish Coast Guard units responded at the time but reported the ship did not issue a distress call or request emergency assistance, leaving authorities on standby. After the grounding, the vessel indicated its 12 crew were safe and uninjured.
Built in 1997, the Razouk is 100 m long and is registered in the Comoros, with ownership linked to Turkish interests. The ship’s condition had already drawn scrutiny before the reported attack.
On 22 January 2026, the Razouk reported it had been struck in the early morning hours while off the coast of Turkey. Reports said the ship was heading to Russia and changed course after being hit by an unidentified flying object. Images from the incident showed shattered bridge windows, along with debris and shrapnel on board.
Port state control records cited a sustained pattern of deficiencies. In December 2025, Romania recorded 41 deficiencies—covering deck corrosion, safety issues involving towing and mooring equipment, living conditions, and documentation—followed by a 14-day detention. Earlier that month, at Novorossiisk in Russia, inspectors cited 28 deficiencies. The ship has been cited in at least 15 consecutive inspections since 2020, with intermittent issues recorded as far back as 2013.
