Russian cargo ship breached, flooded in Black sea. Mine, “friendly fire”?

General cargo ship OMSKIY-205 issued distress signal and requested assistance in Black sea at around 1500 UTC Mar 27, some 2 nm south of southern Crimea, while en route from Istanbul to Rostov, Azov sea, Russia. The ship reported breached hull and flooded engine room. She anchored near distress site, and waited for assistance. She was taken on tow at around 2230 UTC Mar 27, towed to Kerch Strait, anchored south of Kerch Bridge at around 0500 UTC Mar 28.
All Russian mainstream media said, citing Russian Maritime Authorities ((ROSMORRECHFLOT) statement, that the ship was damaged, i.e. hull breached, after she “was hit by a big wave”. Very clumsy explanation of the breach cause, considering the area (landlocked sea) and fine weather. Most probably, the ship was hit either by breakaway “friendly” mine or “friendly fire”.
General cargo ship OMSKIY-205, IMO 8881814, dwt 3476, built 1993, flag Russia, manager MARSHIP-RUS, Moscow.

Author

//

My name is Mikhail Voytenko, I’m Russian, professional merchant marine navigator, by education and former experience. I own and run Maritime Bulletin website for more than 10 years. I've been involved in solving a number of piracy hijack cases, including the hijack of ro-ro FAINA, loaded with tanks. It was me who made public, and unravel, freighter ARCTIC SEA mystery. I've been also closely involved in a number of maritime disaster, one of them being MSC FLAMINIA major fire.