The Turkish Navy’s Department of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography today issued a navigational alert (Navtex) for ships threatened by floating mines in the Black Sea, Hurriyet reported.
The notice, issued by the Samun station, was released after reports surfaced that mines laid near Odessa had been swept away by a storm and floated into the Black Sea.
“It was reported that mines were laid near the ports of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. It is assumed that the mines in question, breaking away from their ropes, could become floating mines and pose a danger to navigation, ”the message says … the importance of all ships in the area being“ vigilant ”in relation to floating mines.
Turkish Radio, the General Rescue Coordination Center, the Naval Command and the Coast Guard Command are urged to immediately report this when floating mines or similar objects are found.