The MV Karagöl is an oil/chemical tanker owned and operated by the Istanbul based Turkish company YDC Denizcilik A.Ş. (YDC Maritime Co.), sailing under Turkish flag. The marine company is also partnered by the ruling AK Party's Istanbul deputy Hasan Kemal Yardımcı. On November 12, 2008, the ship was captured by Somali pirates in the thirty-fifth such attack in 2008.The Karagöl's crew (at the time of capture) consisted of 14 Turks. The vessel was subsequently released, possibly as a result of a ransom payment, on 13 January 2009.