Working Conditions Aboard the James-Ii

On July 2, 2026, the tanker formerly known as 'James 2' and currently flagged under Sierra Leone as the 'Riker,' navigated through the Bosphorus Strait under tow after a significant drone attack off the coast of Sinop in the Black Sea on May 27. This incident involved Ukrainian surface drones striking the vessel approximately 80 kilometers from the entrance of the strait, resulting in critical damage to its engine room and steering compartment, leading to a complete loss of propulsion. Since the attack, temporary repairs were conducted to facilitate safe passage. The ship's classification status was clouded as the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) withdrew its classification at the start of May, and the 'Riker' faced sanctions from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Ukraine in the weeks following the attack. Mid-June saw the vessel transferred to a shell company registered in the Marshall Islands, linking it to the Russian shadow fleet along with its three sister ships. During the transit of the 'Riker' through the strait, six tugboats operated by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s General Directorate of Coastal Safety, namely 'Kurtarma 3,' 'Kurtarma 4,' 'Kurtarma 5,' 'Kurtarma 6,' 'Kurtarma 9,' and 'Kurtarma 11,' completed the tow in a swift two-hour operation. For safety precautions, vessel traffic through the Strait was temporarily suspended in both directions. Extensive security measures were enacted during this sensitive operation, which included high-alert procedures to mitigate any potential risks. As a result of these initiatives, the Bosphorus Strait was closed to transit vessel traffic for approximately two hours, but the operation concluded without incident. Following the successful passage, maritime traffic resumed normal operations once the tanker entered the Sea of Marmara.

On July 2, the tanker 'Riker', formerly known as 'James II', was towed through the Bosphorus Strait, making its way to a shipyard in Yalova following significant damage from a drone attack that occurred on May 28. Stationed at coordinates 40° 49' N 029° 04'E in the Marmara Sea, the vessel had been severely impacted by Ukrainian surface drones approximately 80 kilometers from the strait's entrance, resulting in extensive harm to its engine room and steering compartment, leading to a complete loss of propulsion. Since the incident, temporary repairs were executed to facilitate a safe transit. Earlier in May, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) withdrew its classification status, casting uncertainty over the vessel's condition. Additionally, prior to the attack, the 'James II' faced sanctions from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Ukraine due to its affiliations. By mid-June, the ship's ownership had shifted to a shell company based in the Marshall Islands. The 'Riker' is part of a group of four sister ships, all categorized as part of the Russian shadow fleet.

On May 27, 2026, a significant incident unfolded in the Black Sea when the tanker 'James II', previously flying the Palau flag, was hit by a drone approximately 47 nautical miles off the coast while heading north of the Türkeli region in ballast. The vessel, with 20 crew members on board, sustained damage primarily in the engine room. At the time of the attack, the last reported position of the ship was 41° 55' N, 029° 41' E. Notably, the 'James II' had traversed the Bosphorus strait on May 5, with Constanta marked as its intended destination, and subsequently went NUC (Not Under Command) following the strike. Although the 'James II' no longer carries an officially confirmed flag as of June 2023, it had faced sanctions from Ukraine, the UK, and Australia. The tanker has been linked to the exportation of Russian oil since June 2024 and has a history of turning off its radar systems near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov, in addition to being involved in direct oil transfer operations at sea to sanctioned vessels. Just a day after the attack on the 'James II', on May 28, two additional tankers, 'Altura' (IMO: 9292199) and 'Velora' (IMO: 9290373), were targeted by drones while anchored roughly 14 miles off the Turkish coast at position 41° 39' N, 028° 34' E. Fortunately, the drone strikes on these vessels failed to cause any explosions. Both tankers were engaged in an STS (Ship-to-Ship) transfer operation near Kilyos, north of Istanbul, when the evacuation occurred. The 'Altura', which had transited the Bosphorus on March 16, had been moored since March 27, while the 'Velora' passed through the Strait on April 7. Both vessels had been stationary near Yenikoy for an extended period. Coastal Safety lifeboats were dispatched to render assistance, and fortunately, all crew members on board both vessels were reported to be in good condition. Both tankers were listed under Sierra Leone registration, though the flag for the 'Altura' had been flagged as false since November 2025. Both ships were operated by Turkish companies and faced sanctions imposed by the UK and EU. It's notable that the 'Altura' had previously incurred damage from an earlier attack on March 26. [Video Evidence](https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/2059995405362811355) sheds light on these harrowing events.

On October 10, 2025, maritime authorities from the Tokyo MoU detained the vessel 'James II' at Rizhao Port following a thorough inspection. The inspection uncovered a concerning total of 13 deficiencies, with four of them deemed severe enough to warrant the ship’s detention. The 'James II', which had made its way from Lanshan, was anchored at coordinates 35° 04' N, 120° 02' E near Rizhao as of October 13. This incident emphasizes the ongoing commitment of maritime regulators to uphold safety standards in shipping operations.