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On April 5, 2026, the bulk carrier 'Elbus', which had recently departed from Tuzla following repairs from drone-inflicted damage, experienced a critical engine failure while navigating the Çanakkale Strait near the iconic 1915 Çanakkale Bridge. After weighing anchor off Istanbul on April 4, the vessel found itself in distress the following day. The Çanakkale Ship Traffic Services Center swiftly coordinated an emergency response, deploying the tugboats 'Kurtarma 20' (IMO: 9995117), 'Kurtarma 15' (IMO: 9915040), and 'Kurtarma 16' (IMO: 9915052), along with the lifeboat 'Kiyem 6' to assist the stricken ship. The 'Elbus' was successfully taken in tow, redirected, and anchored safely at Şevketiye Anchorage, with coordinates 40° 25' E 026° 50'. As of April 15, the bulk carrier remains stationary at this location. For more details and visuals, you can view the report at [Kıyı Emniyeti](https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/2040738394557288721).

On January 8, the oil tanker 'Elbus' safely reached the waters off Inebolu, with assistance from a Turkish Coastguard patrol vessel. This development follows a drone attack while the tanker was ballasting along the Turkish coastline, en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Fortunately, all crew members onboard were unharmed and there was no pollution reported from the ship. Initially, plans were made by the Coast Guard to tow the vessel to Turkey; however, the 'Elbus' displayed remarkable resilience by arriving under its own power. Local authorities have commenced a thorough inspection of the tanker to assess the damage sustained during the attack, which primarily affected the upper works. Investigations are underway to pinpoint the source of the incident. For further details, check out the footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LwFkiV5h2o.

On January 7, 2026, the tanker 'Elbus', carrying a crew of 25, was attacked by a drone while traversing the Black Sea, approximately 30 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. The incident occurred as the vessel was sailing east towards Novorossiysk, leading to a significant diversion from its intended course. Following the drone strike, which damaged the upper section of the ship near the engine room, the tanker made a swift maneuver towards the Turkish shoreline. Turkish Coastguard was promptly notified and rushed to the scene to assist. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or environmental pollution as a result of the attack. The tanker managed to safely anchor near İnebolu at coordinates 42° 01' N, 033° 44' E, arriving under its own power. Turkish authorities provided support during the vessel's securing process. Notably, Ukraine’s armed forces have yet to take responsibility for this drone attack, keeping the cause of the incident shrouded in mystery.

The Suezmax tanker 'United Leadership,' built in 2005 and identified by IMO number 159, has officially been sold to Greek clients associated with Eurotankers. The sale price for this vessel, which was constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), reached an impressive $18.2 million. This transaction underscores the ongoing investment activity in the maritime sector, particularly among Greek shipping companies.

The United Leadership, a tanker transporting the inaugural cargo of Kurdish pipeline crude oil from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, has drifted further from Morocco's coastline over the past two days, having been denied entry to the port of Mohammedia. Sources indicate that while the vessel was initially en route to Mohammedia, where the 200,000 b/d Samir-owned refinery is located, it was ultimately turned away without unloading its cargo. Current data from Platts ship-tracking software, c-Flow, show the United Leadership is now anchored and inactive off the coast of Morocco, awaiting further instructions regarding its cargo. A port representative mentioned, 'The vessel has departed in search of new orders, but her next destination remains unclear. The refinery did not accept her.'

In a significant maritime transaction, SCF Byrranga has been sold en Bloc alongside other assets for a total of $70 million. This strategic sale highlights the ongoing activity in the shipping industry, where high-value deals are becoming increasingly common. Industry analysts are closely watching this development as it may indicate shifts in market dynamics and operational strategies among major players.