Iranian Cargo Ship Sinks in the Caspian Sea off Turkmenistan; All Crew Rescued Safely

An Iranian-flagged cargo vessel sank in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Turkmenistan on January 14, 2026, while en route from Iran to Russia. Fortunately, all 14 crew members on board were rescued safely by search and rescue forces.

Picture: The general cargo ship Oban (later renamed Rona) in 2019

According to information from Turkmen authorities, the general cargo vessel Rona sent out a distress call while sailing toward the Port of Astrakhan, Russia. Shortly after the signal was received, search and rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the incident area and successfully evacuated the entire crew, including Iranian and Indian nationals, before the vessel sank completely.

Notably, according to AIS tracking data released by Latvia-based Russian opposition media outlet Vazhnye Istorii, the vessel Rona conducted at least 20 voyages between October 2024 and December 2025, calling at several key Russian ports, including Astrakhan, Azov, and Makhachkala, as well as the Iranian ports of Anzali and Amirabad.

Previously, CNN reported that the shipping route covering the aforementioned ports may have been frequently used to transport Iranian military cargo to Russia, raising concerns over the nature of goods moved along this Caspian Sea corridor. However, there has been no official confirmation that the vessel Rona was involved in such activities.

As of now, no official statement has been issued by the shipowner or relevant authorities regarding the cargo on board or the cause of the sinking. The incident continues to be closely monitored, as it may have implications for maritime safety and logistics operations in the Caspian Sea region.

Source: //www.bairdmaritime.com/