Virat Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The vessel formerly known as 'Virat', now rebranded as 'Prometey', made its way to Tuzla on December 15, following significant repairs. In recent weeks, the tanker had been refurbished to address damage inflicted by Ukrainian Neptune missiles, approximately seven nautical miles off the Turkish coastline. The repairs included sealing blast holes and restoring the main engine to full functionality. This transition sees the ship abandoning its Gambian false flag and officially registering in Russia. Since the start of 2023, 'Prometey' has frequently switched flags to navigate the complexities of the shadow fleet.

Towing operations are currently in motion for the sanctioned tanker 'Virat', linked to Russia's elusive 'shadow fleet', as it makes its way to the Turkish port of Karadeniz Liman. The vessel was targeted by SBU Sea Baby drones approximately 35 nautical miles off the coast, resulting in significant smoke emanating from its engine room. Despite facing a second drone incursion on the morning of November 29, which caused minor above-waterline damage, the tanker has remained stable. Thankfully, all 20 crew members aboard have shown resilience and are reported to be in good health during this challenging incident. For more details and visuals, visit the complete report: https://charter97.org/en/news/2025/11/30/664897/#google_vignette.

On November 28, 2025, the Russian shadow tankers 'Kairos' and 'Virat' were rocked by explosions in the Black Sea, specifically near the Bosphorus strait, leading to significant emergency responses. The 'Kairos' experienced an explosion while navigating close to the coast of Kefken, located in Kocaeli’s Kandira district, resulting in a fire as it sailed from Port Said to Novorossiysk. Immediate rescue operations saw the fast response boats 'KEGM 9' and 'KEGM 10', along with the tug 'Kurtarma 12' and the emergency vessel 'Nene Hatun', deployed to the incident site. All 25 crew members aboard 'Kairos' were successfully rescued by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and taken to Sile Kovanagzi Pier for medical attention. Throughout the night, firefighting efforts were ongoing, with the tug and emergency vessels working tirelessly to contain the blaze. Luckily, the fire was contained within the enclosed areas of the vessel, with no flames observed on the open deck. Approximately half an hour later, another blast was reported involving the 'Virat', which was traveling from Ust-Luga and was located about 35 nautical miles offshore in the Black Sea at the time of the incident. Rescue teams were sent to this location as well, where heavy smoke was spotted in the engine room; however, the 20 crew members on board were reported to be unharmed. Both tankers are known to be under sanctions imposed due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The 'Virat' is currently flagged as unknown, having previously flown the Gambia flag. This 2018-built vessel had been reported as sold to a Chinese company in January 2025, after being sanctioned by the United States for oil transportation earlier that year, with the EU and UK following suit a few months later. Meanwhile, the 'Kairos' was recently removed from the Gambian ship registry for having improperly issued certificates, which left it without a legitimate flag or tonnage insurance. The European Union sanctioned this vessel in May 2025 while it was operating under the name 'Katiuska', with the UK enforcing similar measures a couple of months later. It had been sold in August 2025 to Alafia Trading in China. Despite the incidents, shipping traffic in the strait persists uninterrupted. For more details and images from the event, visit the full report at Reuters.

On November 29, Ukraine confirmed that its Sea Baby drones successfully targeted the 'Virat' and 'Kairos' tankers during a coordinated mission by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy. This operation inflicted heavy damage on both vessels, significantly disrupting Russian oil transportation efforts. The 'Virat' was first struck approximately 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea coast, and later faced another drone assault on the morning of November 29, causing further damage to its starboard side above the waterline. Fortunately, there was no fire reported on board, and all crew members are reported to be safe. Rescue teams have maintained a safe distance from the ship, as it has yet to issue a distress signal. Meanwhile, the 'Kairos' experienced a fire caused by an explosion while situated 28 nautical miles from the Turkish coast. The vessel's 25 crew members were safely evacuated and remained unharmed. Turkish authorities are monitoring the situation closely, as they have yet to detect any environmental contamination around the 'Kairos'. Plans to deploy a team of environmental experts and divers will be set in motion once the fire is extinguished. Firefighting efforts have been spearheaded by the Turkish rescue vessel 'Kurtarma 12'. These two tankers were already under Western sanctions for transporting oil from Russian ports, following the embargo imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, the major oil terminal near Novorossiysk halted operations after an unmanned surface vessel damaged one of its three berths. The Ukrainian military also executed strikes on the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region and the Beriev air force plant in Rostov, resulting in explosions and a fire at the refinery. For a detailed report along with accompanying visuals, visit: https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/kosmos/559142/mayri-thalassa-pos-egine-i-oukraniki-epithesi-sta-deksamenoploia-kairos-kai-virat-vinteo.

In an urgent response on November 19, 2022, the United States Coast Guard successfully conducted a medical evacuation approximately 11 miles offshore from Port Aransas, Texas. A 45-year-old crew member aboard the oil tanker 'Crudesun' exhibited concerning symptoms indicative of a stroke. The incident unfolded at around 4:23 p.m. when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a distress call from the vessel. Acting quickly, the watchstanders consulted with the on-duty flight surgeon, who advised that a medevac was necessary. In a timely manner, the Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi to the scene. Upon arrival, the helicopter crew efficiently hoisted the ailing individual and transported him to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, where he was reported to be in stable condition following the emergency care.