Drone-hit containership RMS Team declared constructive total loss

Antonia Saratsopoulou · Container News · 2026-09-06

The 1,100 TEU containership RMS Team has been declared a constructive total loss after suffering extensive fire damage following a drone strike.

The Akkon Lines-operated vessel was hit on 21 August while sailing towards the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

The attack caused a fire onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. One seafarer was reported missing.

Vessel towed to Samsun

Despite the damage, RMS Team was later recovered and towed to the Turkish Black Sea port of Samsun.

The vessel arrived there around a week after the incident.

Images shared on social media showed extensive fire damage to the ship’s superstructure.

Damage also appeared to extend forward towards several rows of containers. Further damage was visible behind the wheelhouse and accommodation block.

RMS Team declared constructive total loss

Following an assessment of the damage, the containership has now been declared a constructive total loss.

A constructive total loss generally means that repairing or recovering a damaged vessel is no longer considered economically viable compared with its insured value.

RMS Team has a capacity of approximately 1,100 TEU and is operated by Turkish carrier Akkon Lines.

The post Drone-hit containership RMS Team declared constructive total loss appeared first on Container News.

Source: Container News — read the full report

Train on the rules behind stories like this on Mariner Academy — plans from $19/mo.