Working Conditions Aboard the Mersin

**Title: Operations Underway for 'Mersin' at Dakar Port** **Content:** On April 13, the Port Authority of Dakar provided a significant update regarding the operations concerning the cargo vessel 'Mersin'. Maritime authorities confirmed that the unloading process is progressing smoothly, adhering strictly to pre-established protocols and coordinated efforts among the relevant agencies. Since the onset of operations, numerous technical activities have successfully taken place. These include an in-depth investigation of the vessel, securing potential breaches in the engine room, and draining the engine compartment to mitigate any risks. The Senegalese Navy, along with the High Authority for Maritime Safety (HASSMAR) and the National Agency for Maritime Affairs (ANAM), played pivotal roles in these operations. Unloading of the cargo commenced on April 6, facilitated through a transshipment process that has been instrumental in eliminating the risk of marine pollution—a key priority for all stakeholders involved. As operations advance, attention is shifting toward the crucial next step: towing the 'Mersin'. Once the unloading is completed, arrangements will be finalized to tow the vessel back to its home port for necessary repairs. The commitment of all participating entities remains unwavering, emphasizing safety and environmental protection throughout this operation. The collaborative efforts underline a shared dedication to preserving marine ecosystems while effectively managing the situation at hand.

**Title: Ongoing Legal Battles Following Cargo Unloading from Damaged Tanker 'Mersin'** In the wake of the explosions that rocked the area on November 27, 2025, near Dakar, the situation surrounding the tanker 'Mersin' has evolved into a multifaceted legal saga riddled with uncertainty. Months later, this case remains entangled in a web of legal disputes, economic rivalry, and geopolitical tensions. Despite ambiguities regarding the vessel's ownership and identity, officials in Senegal made the controversial decision to permit the unloading of the ship's cargo. As legal proceedings continue to unfold, the resolution remains elusive. Multiple entities have staked claims to ownership of the 'Mersin', raising significant questions about accountability and documentation. The recent unloading involved the commercial exchange of approximately 28,000 tons of diesel fuel, intensifying concerns about the traceability of the product and the legality of such operations amidst ongoing energy supply challenges. This incident underscores deeper systemic issues related to energy governance, transparency, and the economic sovereignty of African nations in the face of increasingly intricate global energy dynamics. As investigations progress, the implications of this case may have far-reaching effects on maritime law and energy governance in the region.

On Jan 28, 2026, the 'Mersin' remained immobilized about 20 kilometers from Dakar, where it had been attacked two months ago, on Nov 28. Having departed from the Russian port of Taman on Aug 21, 2025, the tanker, operated by the Turkish shipping company Besiktas, first stopped in Togo before arriving in Senegalese waters. Its excessive draft had forced it to remain in the port's outer harbour, awaiting instructions. Its immobilization for several weeks had puzzled maritime traffic specialists. Operations were continuing around the tanker. According to the Port Authority of Dakar, the Mersin has been stabilized. The breaches have been sealed, and the waterlogged engine room was being drained. However, the fuel on board has not yet been removed. The hull of the 'Mersin' was perforated at four points of impact: two on the port side and two on the starboard side. The breaches, the largest of which was over a meter wide, revealed the ship's partially damaged piping. According to several military experts, the clean lines of the breaches, their location below the waterline, and the propagation of micro-cracks around the main impacts all pointed to the deployment of magnetic mines by divers: a minimum of 5 kg of explosives for each breach. This would have been enough to pierce the ship's hull, which was made of steel plates between 15 and 20 mm thick. The hull, dented inward at the breaches, also confirmed an external shockwave. The were are all concentrated in the engine room. This deliberate targeting, which deprived the 'Mersin' of a functioning engine, demonstrates a desire to disable the ship rather than sink it and its 39,000 tons of fuel on board. Only a power with advanced diving capabilities and resources is capable of carrying out such a meticulous operation. It was the first time that a ship suspected of belonging to the Russian ghost fleet has been targeted in African waters, likely to send a warning message to Moscow.

The 'Mersin', which was threatening to sink with its 39,000 tons of diesel fuel, has been partially saved. The breaches have been sealed and the ship has been stabilised. The tanker was able to regain its balance because part of its cargo was removed. The 'Touba Tawfekh' was mobilised, and as of Dec 31,18,000 tons of fuel have been removed. The operations were continuing to definitively secure the oil tanker and its entire cargo. The operations were being led by the High Authority for Coordination, Maritime Security, Maritime Safety and Marine Environmental Protection (HASSMAR), in collaboration with the National Navy, the African Refining Company, the Gendarmerie, the Port of Dakar, and Customs, among others. Alongside the ship salvage operations, an investigation has been launched into the explosions.

Initial findings from the Senegalese authorities' investigation into the sabotage of the Russian-linked 'Mersin' suggested that the ship was not hit by drones. However, this conclusion did not dismiss the possibility of a clandestine Ukrainian operation, and the mystery surrounding the cause of the explosions still remained unsolved. The use of programmed surface warfare vehicles called Sea Baby seemed unlikely in the case of the 'Mersin'. Divers commissioned by the Senegalese government observed that the hull had several impacts located well below the waterline, whereas damage caused by Ukrainian marine drones generally appeared on the above-waterline parts of ships. Although not confirmed at this stage, experts familiar with the case are currently leaning towards the theory of explosions linked to underwater magnetic mines of the "limpet" type, which are most often placed on the hulls of ships by combat swimmers and can then be detonated remotely. Several analysts familiar with the case suspected Ukrainian intelligence services of having used this method to damage a handful of tankers in recent months, such as the 'Eco Wizard' in July in the Russian port Ust-Luga. Regarding the 'Mersin', the location where these mines could have been laid, remained to be determined. While the possibility that they were placed in Senegalese waters was estimated to be low, investigators were seriously considering the hypothesis of a mine-laying operation off the coast of the ports where the ship stopped on its way to Dakar. Before reaching Senegal, the 'Mersin' had called at the port of Taman, located in the Kerch Strait, which connects Russia to Crimea, the Ukrainian territory temporarily annexed by Moscow.

The autonomous port of Dakar announced on Dec 3, that it has dispatched mine clearance divers to inspect the 'Mersin' in pos. 14°36’29.51’’ N, 17°16’45.76’’ W, 20 kilometers off the Senegalese coast, carrying 39,000 tons of fuel. With the stern of the ship half submerged, the operation was being carried out by a Senegalese company specializing in underwater inspections. The mine clearance divers were sent out to sea to assess the condition of the vessel and carry out targeted interventions on the hull by sealing the breaches and pumping out 18,000 tons of fuel. The ship was no longer in immediate danger of sinking as the result of the teamwork involving the Senegalese Navy, the National Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM), the National Autonomous Port of Dakar Company, the African Refining Company (SAR), the Maritime and River Gendarmerie Legion, the General Directorate of Customs, the Special Port Authority, the Directorate of Community Marine Protected Areas (DAMCP), the Directorate of Hydrocarbons, and the shipping agent New Maritime, all coordinated by the High Authority for Coordination, Maritime Security, Maritime Safety, and Marine Environmental Protection (HASSMAR). Dakar has not yet confirmed any evidence of the alleged explosions and has not commented on any possible scenario. The operation, however, suggested a possible targeted attack against the ship. A European military source considered it quite possible that the 'Mersin' was is part of Russia's "shadpw fleet", used by Moscow to circumvent sanctions and continue supplying the country with fuel. The transfer of fuel from the 'Mersin' has not yet begun. Senegalese authorities were maintaining an oil containment zone around the ship and monitoring the area to prevent any fuel leakage.

The Senegalese authorities were continuing their efforts to secure the "Mersin" about ten kilometers off the coast of Dakar. A specialized team, under the supervision of the High Authority for Maritime Safety and in coordination with the Senegalese Navy and the Port Authority of Dakar, took control of the situation. The authorities have deployed an anti pollution boom around the vessel and were continuing to assess the water conditions and study measures to stabilise the tanker and secure the 39,000 tons of diesel fuel on board. For the time being, the transfer of fuel from the Mersin has not yet begun. A team of mine clearance divers from the company Tous Travaux Sous-Marins (TTS) has been mobilised by the Port Authority of Dakar. The specialists were conducting a thorough technical assessment of the hull and carrying out targeted interventions, although operations were being complicated by unfavorable wind conditions. Perimeter security was being ensured by a patrol boat from the Senegalese Navy, which was maintaining close vigilance. The coordination of the entire operation was being led by the High Authority for Maritime Security (HASSMAR), in collaboration with the Port Authority of Dakar and the National Maritime Aviation Agency (ANAM). Regular technical exchanges were also underway with representatives of the ship's owner. The common objective of all actors involved was to validate and implement the safest solution to permanently secure the tanker and its cargo, while ensuring maximum protection of the marine environment.

The Besiktas Shipping, the owner of the 'Mersin', said on Dec 2that it was ceasing all shipping operations involving Russian interests, ceasing all operations with Russia immediately and that it would no longer take any Russia-related voyages: “Throughout our operations, we have strictly adhered to all international sanctions regimes, maintaining full compliance with the G7/EU Price Cap mechanism and all relevant trade restrictions. However, the security situation in the region has escalated considerably. After a thorough assessment, we have concluded that the risks posed to our vessels and crew have become untenable. As the safety of our personnel and assets is our highest priority, we are halting all such operations.”