An oil tanker, identified as Hera 1, experienced engine failure while transporting Russian crude through in Dardanelles shipping strait on May 23, causing a temporary blockage to maritime traffic.
According to Bloomberg, the incident occurred near the strait’s entry point in northwest Turkiye at 6:55 a.m. local time, leading to a three-hour suspension of southbound traffic for salvage operations. Following the incident, southbound traffic resumed at 10 a.m. local time, and the tanker was towed to anchorage.
This occurrence highlights the movement of millions of barrels of Russian petroleum worldwide, often through narrow maritime choke points, with uncertain insurance coverage, Bloomberg notes.
The Hera 1, loaded with approximately 730,000 barrels of Russian crude from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, was en route to India via the Suez Canal.
However, Bloomberg highlights that neither its insurer nor its beneficial owner is identified in the International Maritime Organization’s database, classifying it as a shadow fleet vessel.
