An Iranian-flagged general cargo vessel, reported as Rona and also referred to in some registries as Oban, sank in the Caspian Sea on 14 January 2026 after issuing a distress signal off the coast of Turkmenistan.
Rescue and crew
The Turkmenistan Coast Guard responded to the SOS and rescued all 14 crew members on board. The crew is reported to have included Iranian and Indian nationals. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
Vessel details
The vessel was a general cargo ship built in 1983, with a reported displacement of approximately 2,450 tonnes. The ship was operating in the Caspian Sea at the time of the incident.
Outcome
While the crew was safely recovered, subsequent reporting confirmed that the vessel submerged and was lost. No official cause of the sinking has been released as of the time of reporting. There has been no immediate indication of pollution or secondary maritime hazard.
Maritime context
The Caspian Sea remains a high-traffic inland trade route for regional cargo movements, with a fleet that includes a significant number of aging general cargo vessels. Incidents in the area typically trigger crew-first response protocols, followed by technical and flag-state investigations.
The Deep Draft 
Leave a comment