Zanzibar confirm sinking of ship flying Tanzanian flag

Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) has confirmed that a cargo ship flying the Tanzania flag, named Mohammad Z, tragically sank off the coast of the Black Sea in Romania.

The vessel was transporting a significant load of grains, oil, and oil products at the time of the incident.

The unfortunate event has raised concerns about maritime safety and the impact on trade routes.

ZMA director general Sheikha Mohamed told The Citizen on Wednesday, May 22, that the authority received an official notice on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from the Romania Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) concerning the tragedy.

“The Tanzanian-flagged ship cargo has indeed sunk in Romania; we are currently waiting for a full report from MRCC. While eight Syrians and three Egyptians have been rescued, three other people on board are missing,” she said.

Declining to provide more details, she said more information would be provided after receiving detailed reports from Romania.

“Currently, we are making follow-up on the incident, and once we are done, the public will be communicated through an official statement,” she said.

Earlier reports indicated that the incident occurred on May 18, leaving three of the 11 crew members missing. Nine of the crew members were Syrians and two were Egyptians.

However, reports didn’t establish the cause of the incident.

Furthermore, according to reports, eight people were rescued by a nearby commercial vessel, Michel, which is coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), with three Syrians missing.

The Black Sea is vital for the transportation of grain, oil, and oil products, and it is shared by several countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.