What Crew Members Say About Asteri

On June 12, 2026, the damaged tanker 'Asteri,' which recently suffered extensive hull damage on its port side in an attack by a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel, was carefully towed through the Bosphorus Strait. The operation was executed under heightened security protocols with the assistance of multiple tugboats, including 'Kurtarma 4', 'Kurtarma 6', 'Kurtarma 9', 'Kurtarma 12', 'Ayaz Bey', and 'Kazim Bey'. During this critical transit, all vessel traffic in the strait was temporarily halted to ensure the safety of all maritime operations. The incident that led to the damage of the 'Asteri' occurred at Kavkaz, prompting immediate action to safeguard both the ship and the surrounding waterways. Commanded by Captain Fuad Orucov of Azerbaijan, the tanker successfully made its passage through the Bosphorus without further incident, and marine traffic resumed shortly after. For those interested, additional coverage of this event can be found at: https://www.haberdeger.com/yurttan-haberler/hasarli-asteri-tankeri-istanbul-bogazi-ndan-gecisini-tamamladi-225104.

The vessel 'Asteri' was apprehended in the Yingkou port on September 22, 2025, after an inspection by the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) authorities revealed a total of 12 deficiencies. Notably, three of these issues were categorized as severe, providing substantial grounds for the ship's detention. As of September 24, the 'Asteri' remained anchored at Yingkou, having arrived from Hekou on September 21.

On Monday, September 13, 2010, at approximately 11:45 AM, a safety drill involving the British tanker Asteri (IMO 9282493) turned into a dramatic incident. While testing their rescue boat, a line broke, resulting in injuries to three crew members aboard. The snapped line caused the rescue boat to capsize, sending six crew members into the cold waters. In a swift response, the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent was deployed to the scene. The helicopter successfully retrieved all six crew members from the water and transported them to safety at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. Following the initial rescue, one crew member was urgently airlifted to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth due to suspected spinal injuries. The helicopter returned to the vessel for a follow-up, ensuring that another crew member received the necessary medical attention. This incident underscores the importance of safety protocols in maritime operations.