Port-Olya-4 Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On August 14, 2025, a significant escalation occurred in the ongoing maritime conflict as Ukraine executed a long-range drone strike against the 'Port Olya 4' vessel at its anchorage in the port of Olya, located in the Astrakhan region. The attack resulted in the accommodation block of the ship being severely damaged, leading to its sinking stern-first, with only the bow visible above the waterline. According to Ukraine's General Staff, the 'Port Olya 4' was transporting components for Shahed-type drones and munitions supplied by Iran. Olya Port serves as a crucial logistic point for the delivery of Iranian military supplies to Russia. Fortunately, reports indicate that the crew aboard the 'Port Olya 4' was rescued following the incident. Owned by MG-Flot LLC, the ship has been involved in the transportation of Russian military materials since 2021 and has regularly navigated between Amirabad, Iran, and Olya. Notably, the 'Port Olya 4' is among the vessels that have faced sanctions from the United States due to its affiliations with the sanctioned entity MG-Flot. For further details, including exclusive photos, visit: https://www.twz.com/air/ukraine-sinks-russian-cargo-ship-in-caspian-sea.

On September 10, 2024, the United States took decisive action by blocking nine vessels allegedly engaged in transporting munitions from Iran to Russia. This move follows official accusations against Iran for supplying munitions intended for deployment against Ukraine within the upcoming weeks. According to US officials, multiple vessels operated by the Russian company MG-FLOT have been implicated in the transport of critical military hardware, including Close Range Ballistic Missiles (CRBMs), from Iran to Russia to support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Notably, the 'Boris Kustodiev', 'Port Olya 3', 'Port Olya 4', and 'Kopozitor Rakhmaninov' have been identified as frequent transits in the Caspian Sea, moving cargo back and forth between Iran and Russia. In conjunction with these actions, the US also announced sanctions against two Russian shipping firms directly associated with the munitions transport activities. Vafa Wholesale Ltd., owner of the vessels 'VCafa' and 'Vafa 1', has now been added to the sanctions list due to its involvement in moving UAV-related equipment from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Additionally, the Sea Service Limited Liability Company and its vessels, including the 'Omskiy 103', 'Omskiy 119', and 'Zakams', have been blocked for their role in facilitating the munitions transport from Iran to Russia. This escalation underscores the US commitment to countering military support to Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

On December 10, 2022, the cargo ship 'Port Olya 4', laden with corn and barley, became stranded in the Volgo-Caspian Sea Canal at canal kilometer 170, positioned at 44 55 21 N, 047 44 29 E, due to severe weather conditions. The vessel urgently solicited help from the Marine Rescue Service after running aground in the evening. Initial efforts to refloat the 'Port Olya 4' were met with challenges, and the situation escalated when water began to enter the engine room. Despite the activation of the emergency diesel generator, the vessel's list worsened, which was later attributed to a failure in the ballast system. To address the leak and mitigate damage, diving operations became necessary. The rescue efforts were joined by the diving vessel 'Stolnygrad Yaroslavl' and the icebreaker 'Kapitan Chechkin'. A thorough inspection was conducted, focusing on the engine room and cleaning the emergency access point to facilitate diving operations. Divers successfully installed a plug to seal the leak, while the 'Stolnygrad Yaroslavl' commenced pumping water from the engine compartment. After remedial actions were completed, the 'Port Olya 4' was successfully refloated and prepared for towing to port for necessary repairs. Fortunately, the vessel's power supply was also restored to operational status.