The Turkish-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker MT Orinda caught fire after a Russian drone strike while unloading at Ukraine’s Danube port of Izmail, forcing all 16 crew members to abandon ship and triggering emergency measures on both sides of the river. Officials said the tanker was discharging thousands of tons of LPG when it was hit, but firefighters contained the blaze, and no crew injuries were reported.
Regional authorities in Odesa oblast reported a concentrated wave of Russian drones aimed at the port and energy infrastructure, with one unmanned aircraft striking the Orinda alongside the quay and igniting its deck area during cargo operations. The attack is part of Russia’s campaign to degrade Ukraine’s export routes as traffic shifts from mined Black Sea lanes to the Danube corridor. Emergency shutdown procedures were activated on board and ashore, and the crew abandoned ship while local responders fought the fire from tugboats and the pier.
Damage and Cross-Border Evacuations
Marine casualty reports indicate that the Orinda suffered fire damage to its upper works and cargo-handling gear, while a significant volume of LPG remained on board and had to be cooled to prevent a pressure-induced tank failure. On the opposite bank, Romanian authorities ordered the precautionary evacuation of residents from a Danube border village facing the burning ship, highlighting how strikes on Ukrainian ports now carry immediate safety implications for NATO territory.
The tanker fire follows the announcement that Greece’s DEPA Commercial and Ukraine’s Naftogaz signed a letter of intent to supply US liquefied natural gas to Ukraine between December 2025 and March 2026 via Greek LNG terminals. Naftogaz describes the agreement as a step toward securing non-Russian gas for the coming winter and reinforcing the country’s energy resilience. The Orinda strike in a narrow river port used for grain and fuel exports shows how a single hit on a gas carrier in this corridor can threaten seafarers, border communities and broader European energy plans.
Reducing Risk to Ships and Ports
The International Maritime Organization characterises the Russia–Ukraine conflict as an “immediate threat” to ships in the region and has created an emergency task force and guidance hub to help operators adapt routing, security procedures, and incident reporting when trading near Ukrainian and adjacent waters.
Marine insurers such as Gard advise treating calls at Ukrainian and neighbouring high-risk ports as war operations that require reinforced watchkeeping, real-time monitoring of local alerts, explicit crew consent, and close coordination with coastal authorities for any transit window. Regional risk reports recommend layered air defence around key terminals, dispersal of high-risk cargoes, and regular joint drills so that port and shipboard teams can cool tanks, contain fires, and limit gas releases more quickly after a strike
As Editor in Chief of The Maritime, I lead content development, interviews, and digital storytelling across our multimedia maritime platform. With over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry, I create and publish in-depth stories and video features that highlight key players, emerging trends, and operational realities across global shipping. Before launching The Maritime, I worked as a Vessel Operator at Imza Marine A.S., gaining hands-on commercial shipping and voyage operations experience. I also served as Marketing Communications Specialist at Gimas Ship Supply & Services, where I managed corporate communication, digital strategy, and industry outreach for shipowners and maritime clients. I hold a Master’s degree in Maritime Transportation Management from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Marmara University. My work is driven by the belief that the maritime world deserves strong, informed, and accessible media representation. I am committed to sharing the stories of maritime professionals and contributing to the sector’s visibility, knowledge exchange, and future development.
