A sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet has run aground off the Turkish island of Bozcaada, triggering an emergency response from maritime authorities. The vessel involved, Qendil, is the same tanker that was damaged during a Ukrainian drone strike in the Mediterranean last month, adding to scrutiny around its operational condition.
Turkey’s Directorate General of Coastal Safety (KEGM) said the 250-metre tanker was sailing from Aliaga to Yalova when it drifted onto a rocky area near Bozcaada, also known as Tenedos. The island lies in a sensitive and busy maritime zone just south of the Dardanelles, surrounded by narrow passages and multiple small islands frequented by tourist traffic.
According to AIS data visible in ShipAtlas, Qendil anchored southwest of Bozcaada on 30 December, holding a steady position in water suitable for a vessel of her size for several days. That situation changed on 4 January, when the tanker began moving from its anchorage at around 10:30 GMT, drifting downwind under conditions that have not yet been officially explained.
The vessel eventually came to rest roughly 100 metres from shore, close to an area marked as foul ground on nautical charts. Video footage from the scene shows the tanker exposed to strong onshore winds and heavy seas, which may have contributed to the grounding.
KEGM confirmed that two salvage tugs, Kurtarma-10 and Kurtarma-16, were dispatched to the site. Authorities reported no injuries or pollution, noting that the tanker was in ballast, significantly reducing the risk of an oil spill.
The Qendil has been sanctioned by Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand, and previously operated under fleets associated with Oceanix Management FZE and Gatik Ship Management, according to open-source sanction databases. Ukraine has also imposed sanctions on both the vessel and its master, identified as Russian national Andrei Chumakov.
The 115,000-dwt Aframax tanker, built in 2006, has operated under several names (including Spark, Oilstar, and Ionia) and has frequently changed ownership and flags. The vessel is currently registered under the Oman flag, owned by interests in India, and managed by a company based in China.
Over the past three years, the tanker has undergone three ownership changes, sailed under six different flags, and regularly called at Russian oil export hubs near St. Petersburg as well as Vadinar and Mangaluru in India—ports commonly associated with the import of discounted Russian crude.
These operating patterns, combined with the vessel’s age and management structure, closely match known characteristics of tankers engaged in Russia-linked shadow fleet activity.
The grounding comes weeks after Ukraine claimed responsibility for a long-range drone attack on Qendil in the Mediterranean, stating the strike caused serious damage. While the tanker later resumed sailing, no public information has been released regarding repairs or inspections following the attack.
Turkish authorities have not indicated whether the prior damage played a role in the grounding. Salvage operations and technical assessments are continuing.
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