Tanzanian oil tanker runs aground in Kenya. Mombasa Reefs entangles ship for 7 weeks

A General Cargo vessel believed to be a Tanzanian registered ship has run aground at Shanzu, Bamburi area within the coastal waters of Kenya in Mombasa.

The tanker has been identified as MV Dan and is believed to have been stuck in coral reefs for nearly two months now and counting.

Reliable reports from Mombasa claim that local people have been seeing the ship anchored at the Nyali Beach since May 26, 2026.

While they first thought it was a normal docking, it later turned out that the vessel was actually stuck on what was seen as shallow waters or maybe coral reefs.

MV Dan happens to be flying a Tanzanian flag, meaning it was either registered in the country or actually belongs to a firm in Dar-Es-salaam, Tanga or Zanzibar Islands.

Apparently, the 333 meters long ship had run aground on coral reefs while sailing from Dar es Salaam port heading to Mombasa in what is being described as a mission for refueling.

Observers however warn that the general area is a notorious spot​, infamous for seagoing vessels running aground ​there and people do not know why.​ In fact others speculate it to be a haunted zone.

As for the ship MV Dan, The Tanzania Times has reliably learned that the earliest it will be able to unstuck itself from the reefs will be sometime in September 2026.

Why?

Because according to seamen in Mombasa, this will be during the time when the next high tide is expected to raise the water levels.

It seems therefore, that the ship operators, trying to avoid the costs of towing the vessel, are now waiting for nature to come to the ship’s rescue.

The Kenya Maritime Authority recently confirmed that M.V. DAN’s hull was intact with minimal pollution risk after recent inspections.

Refloating efforts for the grounded vessel were expected to commence on July 13, 2026, but until now things remain the same.

The Ship, MV DAN is described to be a general cargo sea vessel flying the flag of Tanzania and bearing International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 8415160, and Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number 677034300.

With a gross tonnage of 164241, Dan previously flew the flag of Panama and before that MV Dan waved the Iranian colors.

MV Dan is a Crude Oil Tanker built in 2009.