Discover the Barla: Ratings & Maritime News

Recent investigations have revealed that the Turkish freighter Barla is the ship implicated in an arms trafficking case reported by local media. The vessel, a general cargo ship, was located in the Black Sea en route to Bartin, Turkey, as of November 20. Turkish authorities were alerted to the situation, leading to a significant discovery on November 16 within Izmit Bay, where Barla was anchored. Authorities uncovered two AK-47 rifles and a small cache of ammunition aboard the vessel. Reports indicate that Barla had arrived from a port in Russia carrying a load of scrap metal. Turkish media has highlighted the origin of the cargo but has refrained from disclosing the ship's name or the crew's nationalities. In the initial reports, an unidentified vessel supposedly from Russia was mentioned, which was captured by Kocaeli police on November 16. The police, acting on a tip, found firearms that were believed to be intended for the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). Out of eight crew members, two were detained while six were released following interrogation. The specifics of the vessel remain undisclosed, likely as a precaution mandated by the authorities. The vessel's last visible indicators, including the initial digits of its IMO number - 77, suggest it may have had its AIS turned off, complicating identification efforts. For additional details, visit Maritime Bulletin at http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=1543.