Bulk carrier VYSSOS, damaged by a mine near the Danube Delta, put up for auction

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier VYSSOS, which struck a mine while approaching Ukraine’s Danube ports in December 2023, has been put up for electronic auction.

The auction is scheduled for 8 October 2026. The vessel’s starting price is UAH 40,175,550. It is registered as Lot No. 605931 in Ukraine’s electronic auction system for seized assets.

The VYSSOS, IMO 9385790, was built in 2007. The vessel is 111 metres long and 18 metres wide, with a deadweight capacity of 8,758 tonnes.

In December 2023, the vessel was heading to the port of Izmail to load grain when it struck a sea mine at the entrance from the Black Sea to one of the branches of the Danube Delta. There were 18 crew members on board, mostly Egyptian nationals, as well as two Turkish and three Ukrainian citizens.

The explosion caused serious damage and a power failure. The vessel lost propulsion and steering, while a fire broke out on its upper deck. The captain directed the damaged bulk carrier towards shallow water, preventing it from sinking. Two crew members were injured in the incident.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research

The sale of the VYSSOS illustrates the long-term economic consequences of the mine threat in the north-western Black Sea and near the mouth of the Danube. Losses resulting from such incidents include not only the value of the damaged vessel but also the costs of rescue operations, berthing, technical surveys, repairs or disposal, as well as insurance and legal proceedings.

This case is particularly significant for Danube logistics. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Danube have become critically important for Ukrainian exports. At the same time, the mine threat, attacks on port infrastructure and increased insurance risks directly affect freight rates and shipowners’ willingness to operate on this route.

“The history of the VYSSOS demonstrates that the consequences of a single incident can persist for years and extend far beyond the immediate damage to a vessel. The safe operation of the Danube–Black Sea transport corridor requires systematic monitoring of maritime areas, the exchange of navigational information, stronger mine-countermeasure capabilities and coordinated cooperation between Ukraine, Romania and international partners,” the Institute of Danube Research notes.

The sale of the damaged bulk carrier also raises questions about its future technical use. The economic feasibility of its acquisition will depend on the results of surveys of the hull and equipment, the cost of restoration, the possibility of safe transportation and the prospects of returning the vessel to service.