One Dead after Libya Military Attacks Turkish Freighter

A ship officer died and several crew members were injured after a Turkish general cargo ship was shelled and attacked from the air near the Libyan port city of Tobruk on Sunday, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

The Ministry has strongly condemned the attack on the vessel identified as the Cook Islands-flagged Tuna-1, which was shelled from the Libyan shore, and then attacked from the air twice as it tried to leave the area.

The 5,312 dwt Tuna-1 was en route from Spain carrying a load of gypsum to the Port of Tobruk, and was in the international waters when the attack occurred, the Ministry said. The ship’s third officer who died in the attacks, and the injured crewmen are all Turkish nationals.

Libyan authorities said that the ship was attacked some 10 miles off the city of Derna after it was warned not to approach. Mohamed Hejazi, a spokesman for Libya’s internationally recognised government, was quoted by Reuters as saying that one person died and one was injured in the attack.

Tuna-1 is currently being towed to the Port of Tobruk, and is reportedly on fire.

World Maritime News Staff