On the morning of January 4, the 249 meter long, 115338 dwt tanker Qendil (IMO: 9310525) ran aground in the Aegean Sea off Bozcaada Island, Çanakkale, Turkey. The crude oil tanker was headed to Yalova from Aliağa in ballast when it proceeded to the anchorage off Bozcaada. The Çanakkale Strait Ship Traffic Services Directorate had alerted vessels in the area that strong southerly winds had impacted the strait. Authorities suspended all traffic and closed the strait to all vessels.
While waiting for conditions to improve to allow traffic to transit the strait, the Qendil was blown ashore off Polente feneri on Bozcaada Island. The tanker contacted Turkish authorities who dispatched the KEGM tugboats Kurtarma-10 (IMO: 9598593) and Kurtarma-16 (IMO: 9915052) to the area. Reports state that salvage efforts will depend on weather condition and hull integrity of the Qendil. There were no reports of injuries to the 26 crew on board the tanker. Authorities continue to monitor the vessel for potential release of pollution.
The Qendil has some added concern to Turkish authorities. The tanker has been reported as part of the Russian shadow fleet. The tanker had been attacked in December 2025 by Ukrainian forces while off Libya. Authorities have not stated the exact cause of the grounding, but there has been some speculation from various sources. Some reports have stated the Qendil was already damaged by the Ukraine attack and the grounding was intentional. However, this theory of the incident has not been confirmed by authorities. An investigation into the incident is expected.
