Bosphorus Naval News

Minex Nusret 2009 Has Started

2009-11-10T01:08:00.003+02:00

The annual Nusret naval exercise has started. The aim of this exercise is to improve anti mine warfare techniques of the participants.

The details of the participating ships is not clear but according to TRT Turkish Navy is sending 9 minesweepers, 2 rescue vessels, 1 helicopter, and Air Force jets. Furthermore NATO’s SNMCMG-2 and MCM ships from Bulgaria, Greece, Germany and Spain are taking part as well.

Just like last year the exercise in held in Northern Aegean. The Nusrat Minex 2009 will end on November 16th.

Click here for a video from the opening presentation.

Turkey Navy caught 5 pirates red handed

2009-11-05T20:21:00.007+02:00

According to the website of Turkish General Staff, today frigate TCG Gediz, her on board helicopter and the embarked naval special forces team in a joint operation prevented the high jacking of M/V Theofors.

On 5th November 2009, 70 miles off the coast of Yemen in side IRTC, the Panama flagged, Greek owned M/V Theofors reported that she was under attack by pirates armed with AK-47's and PRG-7's.

TCG Gediz responded to the incident and stooped the skiff with 5 pirates after a series of warning shots and dynamic maneuvering.

The naval special forces captured the skiff with 5 pirates on board. 3 AK-47’s 1 FN-FAL, 1 RPG-7, 4 RPG-7 rounds, 3 AK-47 magazines and hooks.

This is one of the rare instances when the pirates are caught before they get rid of their weapons. Pirates usually ditch their weapons when they realized that they cannot escape from detention so there is less evidence against them.

With this latest arrest, the total of captured pirates by Turkish Navy increased to 29.

Photos are from Turkish General Staff website.

The Day of Turkish Republic

2009-10-30T10:13:00.006+02:00

Yesterday was the 86th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

It is a custom of Turkish Navy to send a couple of warships to port cities and open them for public visiting. This year's list was published below.

This year F-242 TCG Fatih and F-497 TCG Göksu were in Istanbul. Last year it was F-243 TCG Yıldırım and F-497 TCG Göksu

Here are some photos of the ships, naval helicopters and the celebrations at night.

Open Ship Days

2009-10-28T17:47:00.005+02:00

Today and tomorrow, in order to celebrate the foundation of Turkish Republic, several Turkish Navy warships and submarines will be open for public visits.

The ships and the cities they are in, is as follows:

F-241...TCG Turgutreis...Trabzon

S-358...TCG Çanakkale...Samsun

F-247...TCG Kemalreis...İnebolu

F-240...TCG Yavuz...İzmit

F-242...TCG Fatih...İstanbul

F-497...TCG Göksu...İstanbul

M-263...TCG Erdek...Erdek

M-517...TCG Sapanca...Erdek

F-502...TCG Bandırma...İzmir

F-493...TCG Gelibolu...Marmaris

F-253...TCG Zafer...Marmaris

P-503...TCG Terme...Mersin

P-302...TCG Kuşadası...Mersin

The end of the odyssey of Papanikolis?

2009-10-23T23:19:00.002+03:00

According to Greek newspaper Kathimeiri the defense minister of the newly elected Greek government have met with the CEO of TMKS. The agenda of the meeting was of course the ongoing tug of war between the two parties on Neptune II and Archimedes programmes.

The news paper says that Venizelos and Atzpodien have reached an agreement on the first submarine. An unidentified third country is reported to be interested in buying the vessel and the two sides have agreed that selling it would be the best way out of the current impasse.

The two men reportedly agreed that if the technical problems are ironed out, Greece will accept delivery of the remaining three submarines.

The Greek goverment did not had any options. As predicted, the new goverment choose to find a way to settle with TKMS. The other option was to have its submarine force decay while the government and TKMS searched a solution in ICC.

The fate of the TKMS owned Skaramanga shipyard may be different however. If the ongoing rumors are to be believed TKMS wants to sell the shipyard before the end of this year. The arch rival of TKMS, DCNS offered 3 FREMM Class frigates to Greek Navy. Greece wants these ships to be build at home. And Skaramanga shipyard is the only one in the country that has an existing infrastructure to build these ships.
If TKMS gives up its shares in Skaramanga then this could open the way for the FREEM’s.

TCG Gaziantep came home

2009-10-17T11:48:00.004+03:00

As reported earlier, TCG Gaziantep arrived yesterday at her home part Aksaz. Since 5th June 2009 she spend 122 days in the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy.

During this time she way underway for 1825 hours and covered approximately 25.000 nautical miles. In other words, she spend %62 of her time cruising off the coast of Somalia and made on average 328 miles every day

The photos are form Turkish Navy Official website.

Bulgaria Cancels French Corvettes Deal

2009-10-15T19:40:00.002+03:00

According to Bulgarian news portal novinite, Bulgaria officially declared that it will not buy Gowind 200 corvettes from DCNS.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, said the commitment made by the three-party coalition government for the purchase of the French corvettes is not feasible at the moment because the country's previous rulers not only did not slate any money in the budget for such splurge.

The French company “Armaris” planned to sell to Bulgaria corvettes, a deal that was blessed by Bulgaria's former government.

The number of the corvettes and their price kept changing during the negotiations. After joining NATO, Bulgaria was in dire need of warships within NATO standards. Gowind project seemed to be an easy way of purchasing ships of NATO standards. But budget realities forced Bulgaria to buy second hand ships from Belgium for a friction of the cost of the Gowind 200’s.

41 Drazki (ex-BNS Wandelaar), the first frigate Bulgaria has bought, was handed over to the Bulgarian Navy in October 2005 with the second frigate, 42 Gordi (ex-BNS Westdiep ), following in August 2008. The third Wielingen-class frigate 43 Verni and the Flower-class minehunter 32 Tsibar were transffered in February 2009.

Compared with the Gowind 200 class corvettes, Wielingen class frigates lack helicopter capability, stealth design. Probably Gowind corvettes would have newer version of Exocet anti-ship missile (MM40 vs MM38) and more up-to-date electronics and Combat data system software.

But would these be enough to justify the expense? Currently the main missions of Bulgarian navy are:

1) protecting Bulgarian shores and harbors,
2) keeping SLOC’s of Bulgaria open,
3) surveillance missions,
4) maritime interdiction and anti-terror operations such as Active Endeavour and BLACKSEAFOR

Although old and second hand the Wielingen class ships are very well capable of executing these task without any ado.

TCG Gaziantep is coming home

2009-10-14T21:34:00.002+03:00

F-490 TCG Gaziantep will arrive at her homeport Aksaz naval base, on 16th October 2009.

She was in Gulf of Aden as Turkish contribution to the fight against piracy in the region. She was part of CTF-151. F-496 TCG Gökova replaced her.

Photos of TCG Oruçreis from Scotland

2009-10-13T19:22:00.004+03:00

I thank Jane from Scottish Views for allowing me to use her photos from her excellent blog.

Here are her photos of F-245 TCG Oruçreis in Clyde.

The keel of TCSG Dost laid down

2009-10-07T21:30:00.006+03:00

With a ceremony, the keel of the first search and rescue ship TCSG Dost was laid down.

As the construction of the ship was already started in May 2008, there was no keel laying in traditional sense but block erecting. Her launching is scheduled for May 2010

TCSG Dost is the first ship of a batch of 4 ships at RMK Marine Shipyard. The design of these ships is based on the Sirio class vessels produced by Italian Fincantieri.

With the commissioning of these ships Coast Guard will be able to perform its duties mainly search and rescue in sea state 5 and higher.

The photos are from Virahaber.com

Horizon-1 is free again

2009-10-06T20:35:00.004+03:00

Exactly after 90 days in capture, Turkish bulker M/V Horizon-1 has been released. According to news report a USD1, 5 million ransom has been paid.

When the release was acknowledged F-495 TCG Gediz was send to help.

The crew of Horizon-1 received medical examination on board of F-495 TCG Gediz while naval special forces searched the ship for any possible hidden booby traps. The frigate will supply provisions and fuel.

TCG Gediz will escort Horizon-1, till she will leaves the pirate infested waters.

The photos are from the Turkish General Staff webpage.

Lest We Forget: DM-357 TCG Muavenet

2009-10-04T22:10:00.008+03:00

I have missed the anniversary of the incident of TCG Muavenet being hit.

On 2th October 1992, 11 minutes past midnight, during the NATO's Display Determination '92 naval exercise, two Sea Sparrow surface to air missiles fired accidently from the aircraft carrier CV-60 USS Saratoga, hit the bridge of the Turkish destroyer DM-357 TCG Muavenet. 5 sailors including the commander of the ship were killed instantly and 15 badly hurt. A fire broke out on board. At the time of the incident two ships were 3 miles apart and were streaming north in the Aegean.

According the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit the fatefull events unfolded as follows:

"On October 1, 1992, the Combat Direction Center Officer aboard the Saratoga decided to launch a simulated attack on nearby opposition forces utilizing the Sea Sparrow missile system. After securing the approval of the Saratoga's Commanding Officer and the Battle Group Commander, the Combat Direction Center Officer implemented the simulated assault plan. Without providing prior notice, officers on the Saratoga woke the enlisted Sea Sparrow missile team and directed them to conduct the simulated attack.

Certain members of the missile firing team were not told that the exercise was a drill, rather than an actual event. As the drill progressed, the missile system operator used language to indicate he was preparing to fire a live missile, but due to the absence of standard terminology, the responsible officers failed to appreciate the significance of the terms used and the requests made. Specifically, the Target Acquisition System operator issued the command "arm and tune," terminology the console operators understood to require arming of the missiles in preparation for actual firing.

The officers supervising the drill did not realize that "arm and tune" signified a live firing. As a result, the Saratoga inadvertently fired two live Sea Sparrow missiles at the TCG Muavenet. Both missiles struck the TCG Muavenet, resulting in several deaths and numerous injuries."

According to a report prepared by Turkish Naval Military Prosecutor's Office on November 11, 1992 the Saratoga was with the visible horizon and the launch of the missiles were observed on TCG Muavenet.

One of the missiles hit the ship approximately after a flight of ten seconds. The first missile hit the front of the ships bridge and destroyed it. The second missile exploded in the air probably because the blast of the first missile and peppered the ship with shrapnel. Ships radar antenna, forward gun turrets, hedgehog launcher suffered from the shrapnel damage. The pieces of the second missile penetrated the forward gun turret, cabins of the supply officer and XO.

A fire started at the ammunition chamber of the Hedgehog system. The explosion of the Hedgehog rounds would have caused the loss of the ships. After the hits general quarters were sounded and the fire fighting teams started to tackle the fire. On the other hand the damage control teams were throwing the ready ammunition in the forward gun turrets and other explosives near the fire over the board as a safety measure.

When the situation was under control TCG Muavenet was towed to the Gölcük Naval Base. And the exercise continued as planned.

The damage to the old ship was extensive. She was not useable anymore therefore she was decommissioned right away. Later US gave Knox class FFG-1093 USS Capodanno as compensation.

The fire was under control in 10 minutes but the water caused damage in the decks that were not harmed in the initial blast.

These two photos were taken after TGC Muavenet was towed to Gölcük Naval Base.

The extend of the damage resulting both from missile impact and fire is obvious. It was quite a skill to bring the fire under control before reached to the gun turret in B position. If the fire has spread further to the turrets and ammunition chambers of the guns, the she would not have survived.

All the fire fighting and damage control efforts were done in the absence of the commander of the ship. This fact speaks for the professionalism of the officers and the bravery of the whole crew. They simply did not give up the ship.

Commander Kudret Güngör
Ensign Alertunga Akan
Petty Officer 3th Class Serkan Aktepe
Sergant Mustafa Kılınç
Private Recep Akan

Paid the ultimate price for the defence of their country.

For further reading:
US Navy Court of Inquiry

Turkish Navy Court of Inquiry

Wikipedia

An interesting but technical legal article about why USA did not paid indemnities to the Turkish sailors

Sunday Funnies

2009-10-04T12:12:00.002+03:00

According to http://www.australia.to website Turkish Navy is is way out of line in Somali waters when naval special forces were seen attacking seven Somali teenagers in the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia.

I guess somebody was watching too much Pirates of the Caribbean and Midnight Express and got confused. Or they would also mention the sufferings of the innocent sailors captured by the “Somalia teenagers” were way out of line.

Or may be it is just plain old Turkey bashing.

How I love Einstein's quote: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

More on Greek submarine force

2009-10-02T19:42:00.000+03:00

There have been some important and interesting developments regarding the Greek submarine force and the future of it in last few days.

First TKMS (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems) the owner of HDW, Blohm & Voss, Kockums and Hellenic shipyards announced that the company was cancelling two contracts with Hellenic Navy.

One contract that was cancelled by TKMS was building of 4 Type 214 submarines the other was modernization of 3 Type 209 boats. Both contracts are vital for the Greek Navy.

It is not usual for a company such as TKMS to cancel such contracts. But there is a long story behind it.

So I will try to summarize it:
• 2000: Hellenic Navy ordered 3 Type 214 boats and signed a contract with HDW.
• 2002: A fourth boat was ordered.
• 2002: Hellenic Navy initiated Neptune II Mid-Life Modernization programme. According to this, the first three of the second batch of the Type 209 boats is to be modernized, by cutting them in half and inserting a 6,5m extension to incorporate a fuel-cell based AIP system. Additionally flank array sonar, modern fire control system, electro-optic mast, SATCOM and sub Harpoon firing capability is to be fitted. HDW is the main contractor.
• 2004: First Type 214 ever built was launched as HS Papanikolis in Kiel.
• 2006: Acceptance test of HS Papanikolis conducted. Hellenic Navy refused to accept HS Papanikolis claiming the boat was not meeting the requirements. Poor performance from the AIP system, problems with the ISUS combat system, poor surface seakeeping in high seas, and hydraulic system issues were among the major flaws reported.
• 2007: Second submarine, first to be built in Hellenic Shipyard, HS Pipinos was launched.
• 2008: HDW carried out renewed acceptance tests to show that they have fixed the problems reported two years ago. And German Ministry of Defence (MoD) has certified HS Papanikolis as seaworthy.
• 2008: Problems between Hellenic Navy and HDW about payment issues started to rise to media.
• February 2009: Two days before HS Okeanos, the first boat to undergo the Neptune II MLM is launched Hellenic Navy cancels the programme and express its wish to order two Type 209 submarines with AIP.
• March 2009: The second Type 214 boat, Pipinos , finalized harbour acceptance trials and was declared ready for sea acceptance trials. But these did not start.
• September 2009: TKMS cancelled Type 214 production and Neptune II contracts.

The ongoing dispute between Greece and TKMS does not look as if it is going to end soon. TKMS claims that outstanding payments on both contracts total EUR524 million (USD775.3 million). This number was around USD600 million back in February 2009. They did not agreed to produce the two Type 209 submarines instead of the Neptune II Progremme either.

Actually TKMS does not produce any Type 209 submarines with AIP. TKMS is building two AIP submarines for Portuguese Navy. These submarines are in essence Type 214’s., but called as Type 209’s for political reasons. Thus Hellenic Navy ordered two Type 214 submarines instead of old Type 209’s. But on the other hand Hellenic Navy refuses to accept the first Type 214 into service stating deficiency, which TKMS claims to be rectified. And TKMS delays the acceptance test of the remaining Type 214’s. Thus both sides are creating a vicious circle.

The cancelations of the contracts by TKMS may be seen as an act of breaking the stalemate in the negotiations. It may also an act to built pressure to the coming Greek Government. The general elections are scheduled for 4th October in Greece. If TKMS really cancels the contracts and does not delivers the Type 214’s submarines, that would leave the navy with eight Type 209’s aged between 29 and 38 years old, all but one of them in urgent need of modernization or replacement. This would make the new government look bad.

Turkey ordered 6 Type 214 submarines. If TKMS doesn’t delivers the submarines the Turkey would gain a definitive supremacy in submarine force in the Aegean may be before the next general elections. This also would make the Greek government look bad.

Greece cannot have its submarine force decay while the government and TKMS negotiate over the problems. They have already lost years. Therefore I strongly believe that there will be some kind of a settlement probably in December or in the first months of the 2010.

I also believe that whole Type 214 affair between Greece and TKMS is very closely watched by other shipyards, which may consider, to offer their ships to future projects of Hellenic Navy.

2. Naval Systems Seminar (Updated)

2009-10-01T19:19:00.001+03:00

On 12th October 2009 the Second Naval Systems Seminar will convene in Ankara.

The first seminar organized in October 2008, was an important event, as it was first event of such kind about naval equipment and weapons systems.

This year’s seminar will be held on 12th October 2009, in Middle East Technical University, Culture & Convention Center. This years main sponor is Aselsan. Following companies are also sponsoring this year’s event: Ayesaş, Desan Tersanesi, Figes, Havelsan, Meteksan Savunma, Rohde & Schwarz, Saab Selex Transas-Ratelmak, Tübitak Mam, Tübitak Uekae, Türk Loydu and Yaltes. Furthermore the following companies will have a stand: Artı Denizcilik, Aeromarıtıme, Anova, Defence-Turkey, Katron, Lobel Teknoloji, Mikro Bilgi, Odtü-Biltir and Rheinmetall-Ad (Ocag).

Turkish naval shipbuilding is burgeoning. The purpose of this seminar is to create synergies and collaboration between industry, universities, research institutions SMEs and end user and acquisition authorities. This seminar is expected to add a momentum to the ongoing important ship building projects such as Milgem, New Type Patrol Boat etc.

TCG Oruçreis will join Joint Warrior (Updated)

2009-09-30T19:56:00.002+03:00

~~After completing the electronic warfare trail organized by RN in Portsmouth, TCG Oruçreis apparently sailed to north.~~

Not quite yet. I am sorry but the news about the journeys of TCG Oruçreis comes to me with a delay.

Apparently after completing the electronic warfare trail organized by RN in Portsmouth, she has sailed to Amsterdam and arrived there on 30th September 2009. She will stay in Amsterdam for four days and after that she will sail to Scotland to join the multinational NATO exercise Joint Warrior 2009-2.

The JW is a multi-warfare exercise. The aim of the exercise is to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participating crews to conduct combined operations.

Joint Warrior 2009-2 is scheduled to commence between 5th – 23th October 2009. The scenarios will include small boat attacks, exercise air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and boarding operations.

The order of battle is:
F-245 TCG Oruçreis
R06 HMS Illustrious
F-238 HMS Northumberland
F-89 HMS Portland
M-109 HMS Bangor
M-106 HMS Penzance
M-112 HMS Shoreham
F-330 HMCS Halifax
F-336 HMCS Montreal
D-282 HMCS Athabaskan
A-510 HMCS Preserver
L-16 HDMS Absalon
FFG-32 USS John L. Hall
DDG-61 USS Ramage
DDG-67 USS Cole

The sole non-NATO participant of this exercise is F-41 BNS Defensora from Brazilian Navy.

TCG Oruçreis in Portsmouth

2009-09-29T19:38:00.001+03:00

Royal Navy webiste reported that F-245 TCG Oruçreis was in Portsmouth. She took part in a electrionic warfare exercise along with D-646 FNS Latouche Treville, F-802 HNLMS De Zeven Provincien, F-101 SPS Alvaro De Bazan and F-312 HNOMS Otto Sverdrup.

According to RN the exercise is aimed at enhancing NATO’s knowledge of ship and task force defence and testing the joint workings of weapon and sensor systems.

HMS St Albans’ Commanding Officer, Commander Adrian Pierce, said: “This will be a challenging and exciting opportunity to work closely with our allies. The focus is the performance of NATO electronic warfare systems against a variety of anti-ship missile threats.” Click here to read more.

Photos of TCG Oruçreis from the Naval Parade on 30th August 2009.

TCG Gökova will join CTF-151

2009-09-28T19:19:00.000+03:00

TCG Gökova sailed from Gölcük Naval Base on 27th September 2009, to Gulf of Aden. She will join CTF-151 and will replace TCG Gaziantep which is in the region since July 2009.

TCG Gökova was in the region as part of SNMG-2 between 16th October and 12th December 2008.

Turkish Navy prefers to send Oliver Hazard Perry also known as G class frigates to fight piracy off Somalia. The fuel efficiency of these ships is an important criteria for such missions.

TCG Gökova will remain in Gulf of Aden till February 2010.

TCG Gediz captures 7 more pirates

2009-09-27T18:33:00.004+03:00

Yesterday, on 26th September 2009 the naval special forces team on board of TCG Gediz captured 7 more pirates.

According to the news release from Turkish General Staff, the pirates were inside the IRTC and 66 miles off the coast. (The press release does not mention which coast it is). The pirates were attacking M/V Handy V and M/V Gem Of Cochin when intercepted by Turkish forces.

With this latest arrest the total of captured pirates increased to 24.

The following photos are from Turkish General Staff website:

The Day of Turkish Navy

2009-09-27T17:57:00.005+03:00

The 27th September, is the Day of Turkish Navy. This day is also the anniversary of the Battle of Preveza.

On 27th September 1538, a naval battle for the supremacy in the Mediterranean, was fought between the Ottoman Navy commandeered by Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa and the fleet of a Christian alliance assembled by Pope Paul III and commandeered by Andrea Doria.

With the victory at Preveza and the subsequent victory in the Battle of Djerba in 1560, the Ottoman Empire successfully repulsed the efforts of Venice and Spain, the two principal Mediterranean powers, to stop the Turkish drive to control the Mediterranean. This only changed with the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

More Escalation in the Black Sea

2009-09-16T21:58:00.002+03:00

The naval tensions in the Black Sea will not smooth down soon. On Tuesday 15th September 2009, Russia announced that it will act against the Georgian coast guard, if they try to prevent merchant ships to sail to Abkhazia. On the same day Russia signed military cooperation deals with Abkhazia, S.Ossetia.

Russian coast guard chief Lt. Gen. Viktor Trufanov said that Georgia has illegally intercepted more than 20 ships in the Black Sea off Abkhazia this year,

"We will do everything to ensure the security of the Russian state, the security of the Abkhazian state. We have a task and we will carry it out," Interfax quoted Trufanov as saying. He said that Russia forces will intercept but not destroy any Georgian ships that try to stop ships in Abkhazian waters from now on.

The latest row started when Georgia intercepted a Turkish tanker off the coast of Turkey, well in international waters of the Black Sea in August. The tanker M/T Buket was taken to Poti and detained there. After a qucik trial the captain was sentenced to 24 years in jail. But first the crew, later the captain were relased on bail and returend to Turkey.

Both Georgia and Russia are important trade partners in this region. The break away regions of Georgia are also tempting targets for Turkish entrepreneurs for investment and commerce.

There will be more war of words and muscle flexing in the coming stormy days of the winter.

First Anniversary

2009-09-15T08:52:00.002+03:00

This is first anniversary of my blog. Everything started with a small note one year ago.

In the meantime I have written 149 (not including this) posts. I may not be a prolific writer with one post for ever 2,4 days but given the fact that I am currently employed in totally not naval day job, leaves me only the evenings and weekends.

I thank everyone that have posted a comment or sent an e-mail.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Turkey to receive Mk54 Torpedoes through FMS

2009-09-11T08:00:00.000+03:00

Raytheon Co. said on 9th September 2009 Wednesday, that it received a $19.3 million contract from the Navy to provide MK54 lightweight torpedo hardware to the U.S. and Turkish navies.

Under the contract, the company said its Integrated Defense Systems division will deliver 241 MK54 kits, including 100 that will be sent to the Turkish Navy through a foreign military sales agreement.

New Infiltration Boats for Special Forces

2009-09-10T09:14:00.006+03:00

A video about the new boats for Turkish naval special forces has been released by TRT. This is the first video and first hard evidence that these boats are actually being built.

You can watch the video here.

When finished the boats will look like this model.

The boats are made in Yonca-Onuk shipyard, which is specialized in building composite hulled fast intervention and patrol boats. Turkish Coast Guard acquired 40 boats in various classes (MRTP 15; MRTP 29; MRTP 33 locally knows as Kaan class) from Yonca-Onuk shiyard.

The two infiltration boats called as MRTP 22 U class are the boats this shipyard sold to Turkish Navy. They are 24 meters long and have 48 tons displacement. Powered by two 2200 hp engines and water-jets, they can make up to 55 knots.

Currently Turkish naval special forces teams use RHIB's.

Escalation in the Black Sea

2009-09-05T22:12:00.000+03:00

Turkish foreign minister Davutoğlu told in a press conference that Georgia was going to free Turkish captain for a 27.000 TL (aprox. 18.000 USD) bail. The crew was set free again for against a bail of 30.000 TL (aprox. 20.000 USD) last week. He is also traveling to Tbilissi next week.

The capture of Panama flagged but Turkish owned and crew vessel by Georgian coast guard in international waters, of Black Sea 97 miles of Turkish town Sinop, created discomfort among Turkish merchant shipping community. The inactivity of Turkish Navy and Turkish government during the incident was criticized by Chamber of Shipping.

Currently there are at least 4 Turkish owned merchant ships, confiscated by Georgians in Poti harbor.

Abkhazia is at the western end of Georgia. The region is bordered to the north by the Russian Federation. To the east and southeast, Abkhazia is bounded by the Georgian region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti; and on the south and southwest by the Black Sea. The norhern border is extremly mountenous and difficult for transportation. Transport by the sea is the most easies and chepest way for the commers. Georgia did not recognized the self procliamed independence of thei region. Therefore Georgians are pressuring foreign flagged ships not to sail to Abkhazia. One way to persuade shiping companies is to confistacate their ship. This is happened to the M/T Buket.

Georgian sentiment and sensitivty about this issue is understandable. So is the reaction of Abkhazia. On Wednesday, 1st September 2009, Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh threatened to destroy any Georgian ship violating the de-facto sea borders of the Georgian rebel region, in a major escalation of a row with Tbilisi over shipping in the Black Sea.

After the last years war with Russia, Georgian maritime forces were reduced to a coast guard. The exact strength of Abkhazian naval forces, are not known. But this recent escalation of words could easily escalate more into a clash. Turkey considers the Black Sea as her area of influence. An armed naval confrontation between Abkhazian (most probably with open or covert Russian help) and Georgia would create considerable headaches for Turkey. There is noting much the Turkish navy actually can do for the protection of Turkish merchant ships except using its diplomacy skill and soft power.