AN ESTONIAN-owned ship has sunk off Odessa following an explosion.

Six crew members have been rescued from the Panama-flagged, 1985-built, 2,086 dwt general cargoship Helt (IMO: 8402589), according to Tallinn-based shipmanager Vista Shipping Agency managing director Igor Ilves.

Earlier reports said four men were missing and two were on a liferaft.

Capt Ilves said the company was contacting families of those involved.

Security firm Dryad Global said the ship disappeared from radar at about 1218 hrs. Its last report indicated a 70-degree list.

Dryad said the incident occurred about six nautical miles south of a mine-warning area. “Images appear to indicate an attack commensurate with a mine strike,” it said.

Ukrainian armed forces this week accused the Russian Black Sea Fleet of “trying to hide behind civilian lives”.

It said Russian ships had forced Helt to enter the dangerous zone of the Black Sea “so that the occupiers can cover themselves with a civilian ship as a human shield. This is nothing but 21st-century piracy”.

Separately, one seafarer was killed when Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier Banglar Samriddhi (IMO: 9793832) was hit by a missile while anchored off Oktyabrsk, Ukraine.

Ships in the Black and Azov seas have been warned to transmit on Automatic Identification System, clearly state their intentions on VHF radio and maintain lookouts.

Access the new standard in sanctions compliance risk analysis. Seasearcher Advanced Risk & Compliance provides insight previously unattainable, enabling you to save time and effort completing sanctions compliance checks, investigations and monitoring vessels for illicit activity. Request a demo here.