Jul 23 UPDATE: Tanker was arrested by Krasnodar Region Court Ruling on Jul 22 or Jul 21, as pledged asset to secure debt payment, after Russian Salvage Agency Morspassluzhba claim. Agency estimates salvage costs to be of some USD 900,000, including firefighting itself, cost of delivery on board equipment and teams, providing safe anchorage and other salvage services rendered. Whether Agency’s $900,000 claim is justified or not, is a question, but it does look strange, and even outrageous. After all, it wasn’t commercial salvage, it was a case of emergency salvage. One more case of State-controlled racketeering?

Initial news:
Jul 12: Fire erupted in engine room of tanker AHMET TELLI at Temryuk port, Azov sea, Russia, in the evening Jul 9. Circumstances unclear, information given in statement issued by Russian Salvage Agency is so confused that it’s almost impossible to find out how it happened, what was tanker’s status at the time of fire, and what followed. Understood tanker was taken or moved to Temryuk outer anchorage, where she lost anchor, circumstances unknown. Tanker underwent dry docking prior to fire, understood in Temryuk, so all tanks were degassed and didn’t contain any cargo or residues. Fire was extinguished with the help of Russian Salvage Agency local branch firefighters. Tanker’s Chief Officer inhaled toxic fire emissions and had to be hospitalized, injures said to be not life-threatening. AIS is on, as of 1320 UTC Jul 12 tanker remained at anchorage.

Jul 13 UPDATE: Understood tanker was to be dry docked at Temryuk port and at the time fire broke out, was entering ship repair yard basin. Fire disabled the ship, pilot on board anchored tanker in basin, but later, because of threat of explosion, took AHMET TELLI to outer anchorage, with tugs assistance. As of morning Jul 13, remained at anchor.

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