Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Aya

On September 11, the bulk carrier 'Aya' fell victim to a missile strike believed to be a tragic miscalculation by Russian forces. While en route from Odesa to Egypt laden with 26,000 tons of grain, the vessel was targeted by an AS-4 Kitchen anti-ship missile, reportedly launched from a Tu-22 Tupolev bomber. British military intelligence has indicated that the 'Aya' was likely not the intended target of this aerial assault. Analysts attributed this incident to deficiencies in Russian targeting protocols and the reliance on outdated weaponry. Fortunately, the missile's failure to detonate prevented a disaster at sea, averting what could have been a devastating event.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has publicly charged Russia with launching an attack on the bulk carrier 'Aya', which was navigating the Black Sea carrying 26,550 tons of wheat with a crew of 23 Syrian nationals. The ship departed from Chornomorsk on September 11, 2024, and was en route to Egypt when it was struck approximately 30 nautical miles from Sf. Gheorghe, Romania, at 11:03 p.m. Following the incident, the captain of the 'Aya' requested a course adjustment towards Constanța to assess the extent of the damage. In a coordinated effort with the Romanian Naval Authority, the maritime surveillance vessel 'MAI 0201' was dispatched to provide assistance. However, after contacting the captain, he declined any aid, and there was no further need for intervention from the border police. The 'Aya' was ultimately moored off Constanța on September 12. President Zelenskiy condemned the incident as a brazen act that not only flouts international regulations but also jeopardizes global food security and navigational freedom. According to Ukrainian sources, the attack involved Kh-22 missiles reportedly launched from Russian Tupolev Tu-22 bombers, causing damage to the ship's port side, including the crane and cargo hold, but thankfully no injuries among the crew were reported. If the allegations are substantiated, such aggression could further escalate tensions between Russia and NATO, especially given the attack's proximity to the Danube River and Romanian waters. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decried the Russian Armed Forces' actions as an unprecedented escalation in its unlawful and unjustified conflict with Ukraine, condemning the targeting of a commercial vessel as a serious breach of international humanitarian law. The ministry strongly urged Russia to halt all attacks on merchant ships and to uphold freedom of navigation. Echoing this condemnation, the Romanian Ministry of Defense reaffirmed the necessity of protecting navigation rights in the Black Sea region. In response, Ukraine has pledged to notify the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization about the attack, characterizing it as a direct violation of UN General Assembly Resolution A.1183, which safeguards freedom of navigation and global food security. For further reading and resources, visit the following links: [Romania Insider Report](https://www.romania-insider.com/ukrainian-wheat-ship-hit-russian-missile-near-romanian-waters-2024) and [Ukrainian News](https://unn.ua/en/news/ukraine-will-inform-the-un-and-the-international-maritime-organization-about-russias-attack-on-a-civilian-vessel-in-the-black-sea-mfa).

In a notable online auction held by the Shanghai Maritime Court, a foreign vessel has been sold for an impressive sum of $2.41 million (16.89 million yuan) through the e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba. The auction involved the Panamanian-flagged ship, Mahoni, which has a complex history tied to a lawsuit filed by 31 Filipino crew members against its owner, an Indonesian shipping company. The court seized the Mahoni in May 2016, following claims that the crew had not received their wages for the past 18 months. The auction took place on Taobao, which is China’s leading consumer-to-consumer online shopping platform, and saw an astonishing 12,112 viewers participating. The bidding continued through 63 rounds before the final hammer price was reached. The successful bid was made by Zhongjiang Ocean Shipping Limited based in Hong Kong, with the court officially transferring ownership of the vessel last Friday.