TL:DR
- Fourteen sailors were rescued from the sinking Iranian-flagged cargo ship Rona in the Caspian Sea.
- The ship sent an SOS signal on 14 January 2026; all crew members are reportedly from Iran and India.
- Turkmenistan’s Coast Guard responded promptly, adhering to international marine regulations.
- The Rona had a history of transporting cargo between Iranian and Russian ports.
- Recently, Ukraine targeted Russian drilling platforms in the same area.
Iran flagged cargo ship ‘heading to Russia’ sinking in the Caspian Sea
The Rona, a 120m long dry cargo ship was heading to Russia according to MarineTraffic.com.
Fourteen sailors have been rescued from an Iranian-flagged cargo ship sinking in the Caspian Sea.
The Rona, a 115m long dry cargo ship was heading to Russia according to MarineTraffic.com.
A Turkmenistan Government press release confirmed the sinking off its coast.
A spokesman said: ‘On 14 January 2026, the Coast Guard Services of Turkmenistan received the SOS signal from the Iranian dry cargo ship Rona, which was suffering in the Caspian Sea.
‘The government agencies of Turkmenistan responsible for emergency response and prevention took all necessary measures to rescue the people on board in accordance with international marine regulations.
‘Due to timely response, all 14 people on the ship were rescued. According to the primary information, they are citizens of Iran and India.
‘At present, the Turkmen side is undertaking all relevant procedures in accordance with the international rules.’
Photos show the huge ship surrounded by lifeboats with Iranian flags appearing to sink under the surface of the waves.
From October 2024 to December 2025, the cargo ship Rona made at least 20 calls at the ports of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, and Azov, sailing from the Iranian ports of Amirabad and Anzali. According to CNN, this route serves as the main channel for arms deliveries from Iran to Russia, but that is an unverified claim by a US broadcaster known for its propaganda.
The Caspian Sea is a well-known route for shipments bound for Russia.
Just three days ago, Ukrainian forces struck three Russian drilling platforms belonging to Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest oil producers, in the same stretch of sea.
The three Lukoil Corporation drilling platforms hit by Ukraine — the V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Graifer platforms — are used by Russia for oil and gas extraction.
‘Direct hits have been recorded. The extent of the damage is being assessed,’ the statement reads.
These platforms supply fuel to the Russian army, according to Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO), which carried out the strikes during the night of January 11.
This is a breaking news story… More to follow…