Drone Attack in the Black Sea—What Is Known about the Sunken Ship "Alfa Watan"

The sunken vessel, last named “Alfa Watan”, which was sailing under the Togolese flag, was built half a century ago in Hamburg. It is owned by a company registered in the Turkish city of Mersin which, according to official records, owns only this vessel. BNT contacted the Turkish company’s office, where we were asked to send our questions by email. We are still awaiting a response.

A company with a similar name is registered in the Syrian city of Tartus, but it is only involved in crew recruitment. According to a list that has been circulated, there were nine sailors on board, with Mohammad Nadaf as captain. The Lebanon-based specialist maritime transport website “Assafina” reports that they were Syrian nationals and one Egyptian.

Drone Attack: Ship Sunk, Sailors Rescued, Authorities Mobilised After Black Sea Incident

The website quoted the Tartus Seafarers’ Union as saying that, according to the Syrian owner, the vessel was carrying salt. It left the Egyptian port of El Arish on 21 September and entered the Black Sea through the Bosphorus, sailing to the Romanian port of Sulina, a route it had taken before. It was carrying a full load. There is no official information about the cargo.

Search Operation for Missing Sailors of "Alfa Watan" Ship Sunk in Drone Attack Has Been Called Off