Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms Space By Flag By Year By Tag

Nefrit Multi-Purpose Supply Vessel

2004 MODERN NAVY Russia-Ukraine war UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE OFFSHORE SUPPORT VESSEL

History

Nefrit is a Russian-flagged offshore support vessel used for maritime support operations. Open-source reporting describes it as a multi-purpose supply vessel intended to support offshore oil and gas activities in the Black Sea.

Vessel tracking data identifies Nefrit as an offshore support vessel built in 2004. The ship carries IMO number 9297773, MMSI 273292650, and the callsign UBDW8. Its recorded dimensions are 91 m in length and 18 m in beam. VesselFinder lists the vessel under the Russian flag.

On September 3, 2026, Nefrit was struck near a berth in the Port of Sochi during a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel attack. Available reporting documented an explosion near the pier and subsequent images of the strike area, but the supplied sources do not establish the full extent of damage to the vessel.

Service in the Black Sea

Nefrit operated in the Novorossiysk area and elsewhere in the Black Sea. Reporting on the vessel described its role as supporting maritime operations, including offshore oil and gas activities. VesselFinder also recorded Novorossiysk as its last reported port in the available vessel data.

September 2026 attack

On the morning of September 3, 2026, Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels attacked the Port of Sochi. According to Militarnyi, citing the OSINT channel Exilenova+, Nefrit was struck close to a pier during the attack. Footage circulated online showing an explosion near the berth and the aftermath at the strike location.

Reports also described a series of explosions around the port during the attack. A Russian Pantsir air-defense system was observed near one of the reported strike locations. The supplied material does not confirm whether Nefrit remained operational after the incident.

Design

Nefrit is classified in vessel-tracking data as an offshore support vessel. Reporting describes it more specifically as a multi-purpose supply vessel intended to support offshore oil and gas operations. This role places the ship in the maritime logistics and support category rather than among dedicated combat vessels.

The available data gives Nefrit a length of 91 m and a beam of 18 m. A draught of 5.4 m was reported in the available VesselFinder record. The supplied sources do not provide verified information about the ship's propulsion system, installed power, cargo capacity, deck arrangement, crew size, or specialized offshore equipment.

Operational history

Nefrit operated under the Russian flag in the Black Sea, including the Novorossiysk area. Its documented activities were associated with maritime support and offshore oil and gas operations.

The vessel became directly associated with the Russia-Ukraine war on September 3, 2026, when it was hit during a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel attack on Sochi. The strike occurred near a port berth. The available sources confirm the hit but do not establish that the vessel sank or provide a verified assessment of its subsequent condition.