A crew member is missing and another has been injured after an explosion was reported on a multipurpose cargo vessel off Turkey.
It has emerged that a fire broke out on the 8,000-dwt Azov Confidence (built 2007) on 2 November, shortly after it left the port of Samsun, bound for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
A Ukrainian mechanic on the Marshall Islands-flag vessel is said to have become engulfed in flames and jumped into the sea, according to the Deniz Haber website.
A search-and-rescue operation failed to find him. He was named only as Michael M.
A Russian national, Aleksander A, aged 42, was injured in the blast.
He was taken to Samsun Education & Research Hospital and discharged after receiving outpatient treatment.
No details have been given about the extent of damage to the ship.
The explosion took place in the engine room, the report said.
The cargo vessel has no port state control detentions on its record dating back to its delivery.
Safety faults found
A safety check in Novorossiysk in August found five deficiencies, however.
These related to the launching arrangements for lifeboats, the rescue boat inventory, medical equipment and navigation bridge visibility.
UK shipbroker Clarksons lists the owner as Albros Shipping & Trading of Istanbul. No one was immediately available at the company to provide further information.
Turkish technical manager Sarfo Denizcilik has been contacted for comment.
Protection and indemnity cover is provided by the West of England P&I Club.
