Happy-Aras

The 'Happy Aras', with 14 crew members, among them three Turkish nationals, on board, ran aground on Jan 3, 2026, 30 meters from the shore near Cape Zhelezny Rog in the Temryuk District of Krasnodar Krai in the Black Sea after drifting south of the Kerch Strait and taking on water. The incident occurred after a storm warning had been issued in the region on Jan 2 with strong winds, and gusts reaching speeds of 20 to 25 metres per second, which may have contributed to the grounding. The crew was evacuated safely and in good health under the coordination of Turkey’s Maritime SAR Coordination Center. The navigational status of the vessel has been “not under command” since Jan 2. The vessel's AIS signal has appeared sporadically on commercial tracking since Dec 30, 2025, when the vessel departed Varna. The bulk carrier was enroute from Varna to Novorossiysk without cargo. There were reserves of petroleum products on board. So far, no oil spill has been detected. The situation was being monitored by the Black Sea-Azov Marine Administration of Rosprirodnadzor. An oil booms was laid out around the ship. The 'Happy Aras' had been detained on Dec 22, 2025, in Canakkale with 11 defiencies, and in Novorossiysk on Oct with eight deficiencies. It :had a market value of only $1.5m. It is operated by the Turkey-based Mutlu Shipping and has an extensive history of port state control deficiencies and detentions, with multiple issues identified in every PSC inspection since 2018. On the evening of March 22, 2023, the "Happy Aras" had run aground in Murdala Bay in the Datça district of Muğla while en route to Mersin with a 13-member Turkish crew and a cargo of 4184 tons of soybeans, but was refloated on June 13, after lightening of the fuel and the cargo, by the tug "Kocabas 1" (MMSI: 271010019). Reports with photos: https://www.haberdenizde.com/denizde-gundem/kirmizi-rota-armatoru-yakti/ https://rpn.gov.ru/press/news/situatsiya_s_sudnom_happy_aras_sevshem_na_mel_v_chernom_more_nakhoditsya_na_kontrole_rosprirodnadzor/ https://www.virahaber.com/happy-aras-isimli-gemi-datcada-karaya-oturdu-66831h.htm https://www.denizhaber.com/happy-aras-gemisindeki-tum-murettebat-kurtarildi/125839 https://caliber.az/en/post/bulgarian-dry-cargo-ship-runs-aground-in-russian-black-sea-waters https://www.denizhaber.com/happy-aras-isimli-gemi-datcada-karaya-oturdu/102867 https://www.denizhaber.com/datcada-karaya-oturan-happy-aras-isimli-gemi-kurtarildi/104023 https://www.haber1.com/genel/kuru-yuk-gemisi-datca-aciklarinda-karaya-oturdu/

On Dec 22, the 'Happy Aras' was detained in Canakkale, Turkiye with 11 deficiencies, eight of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Safety of navigation - Charts Missing 2) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications 'Not updated 3) Fire safety - Fire detection and alarm system Not as required 4) Fire safety - Means of escape Unsafe 5) Emergency systems - Emergency source of power - emergency generator Not as required 6) Emergency systems - Emergency lighting, batteries and switches Not as required 7) Living and working - Gas instruments Not as required 8)) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Dec 23 and left the port enroute to Icdas. The last detentions were only on Oct 5 in Novorossiysk with nine deficiencies for three days, and on Oct 18, 2024, for one week in the same port. https://www.facebook.com/share/1HjTxB9RbE/

The "Happy Aras" was detained in Novorossiysk on Oct 5, 2025, with eight deficiencies: 1) Radio communications - Reserve source of energy Not as required 2) Safety of navigation - Lights, shapes and sound-signals Not as required 3) Safety of navigation - Monitoring of voyage or passage plan Not as required 4) Labour conditions - Electrical Unsafe 5) Labour conditions - Winches & Capstans Not as required 6) Labour conditions - Laundry, adequate locker Not as required 7) Safety of navigation - Pilot ladder and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements Unsafe 8)) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not as required The vessel was released again on Oct 7 and dropped anchor off the port. The last detention was on Oct 18, 2024, also in Novorossiysk with seven deficiencies for five days. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

The 'Ali Isik', en route from Iskenderun to Tuzla, suffered a technical failure during the transit of the Bosphorus and moored at Karanlik liman anchorage on Sep 14, 2021, at 11.30 p.m. Repairs were carried out by the crew, and the ship resumed its voyage to Tuzla.