A Turkish LPG carrier docked at the port of Izmail, Ukraine, was hit by a Russian drone during an attack, sparking a fire on the vessel, which has now been extinguished.

According to the Maritime Executive, the 9,352-deadweight tonnage (dwt) vessel – named MT Orinda – had been unloading a cargo of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) when the attack took place on November 17, hitting gas pumping equipment at the port and pushing the 16-strong crew to initiate a shutdown operation. Fortunately, all were safely evacuated from the vessel.

In response, Ukrainian firefighters worked to douse the blaze, placing a fireboat alongside the stricken LPG carrier. According to the Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, the cooling effort was completed on the morning of November 18, and there was currently no more risk.

As a result of the attack, a portion of the ship’s gas cargo was burned off – according to a Romanian report. The country has been keeping a close eye on the vessel as it was sitting only 200 metres away from a Romanian village. 230 people self-evacuated or moved from various Romanian villages as a result, according to the Maritime Executive, however, all have now been allowed to return home.

To reduce the chance of an explosion, Ukraine brought a vessel alongside to refill the Turkish carrier’s water tanks, with the ship now expected to be towed away from the dock to an anchorage on November 19, according to the Turkish Directorate. Following this, an inspection will be carried out to assess the full scope of damage taken by the 23-year-old vessel.

The incident underscores the continued risks faced by merchant shipping in the area, particularly since Ukraine was among the top nine destinations for Turkish LPG exports as of April this year, according to Anadolu Agency.

The country’s strategic position near the Danube corridor and Black Sea makes trading LPG a lucrative business amid the constriction of traditional Black Sea routes as the Russo-Ukrainian war drags on. In April alone, Turkey exported 45,883 tonnes of LPG, marking an 11.1% year-on-year increase thanks to an increase in domestic LPG production – which rose by 10.1% that same month alongside a decline in imports, Anadolu Agency notes.