Two chemical tankers were set ablaze by drone strikes near Romania’s Black Sea coast, leaving seven sailors missing. The San Marino‑flagged Wine Trader was struck 13 nautical miles southeast of the Sulina canal, one mile outside Romanian waters, while the Comoros‑flagged Yara J burned 8‑10 miles southeast of Sulina inside Romanian territorial waters.
Search and rescue hampered by weather
Rescue teams deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two medical ships, but operations were paused because of very big waves. Five crew members from the Wine Trader were recovered; the remaining seven are still unaccounted for. All crew of the Yara J were reported safe.
Broader security context
NATO officials said the drones that caused the fires were of Russian origin, a claim Romanian President Nicusor Dan did not confirm. He said, 'Commercial ships are being attacked and sunk, seafarers killed, injured or missing, and lives, global trade and critical infrastructure are at stake.'
Over the past ten days at least five other cargo vessels have been hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, with at least 23 sailors reported missing or dead. Those incidents occurred outside NATO territorial waters.
NATO also reported that two additional vessels were targeted overnight: the Marshall Islands‑flagged bulk carrier Sea Destiny inside Romanian waters and the Tanzanian‑flagged tanker Dania J moored in the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. No casualties were mentioned for those ships.
The Sulina canal on the Danube remains a vital export route for Ukrainian grain after repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Romania’s 614‑km border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube, has seen frequent Russian drone incursions since 2022, adding to the strain on maritime traffic.
Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev said EU leaders would discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea, while Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Toiu described the waterway as a global food artery and the deadliest sea for sailor casualties in recent months.
Such incidents typically prompt higher war‑risk premiums and lead operators to reroute vessels away from the affected area.
Cover image: admnvrsk.ru, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
As Editor in Chief of The Maritime, I lead content development, interviews, and digital storytelling across our multimedia maritime platform. With over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry, I create and publish in-depth stories and video features that highlight key players, emerging trends, and operational realities across global shipping. Before launching The Maritime, I worked as a Vessel Operator at Imza Marine A.S., gaining hands-on commercial shipping and voyage operations experience. I also served as Marketing Communications Specialist at Gimas Ship Supply & Services, where I managed corporate communication, digital strategy, and industry outreach for shipowners and maritime clients. I hold a Master’s degree in Maritime Transportation Management from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Marmara University. My work is driven by the belief that the maritime world deserves strong, informed, and accessible media representation. I am committed to sharing the stories of maritime professionals and contributing to the sector’s visibility, knowledge exchange, and future development.
