Eight Crew Missing After Drone Attack on Tanker in Black Sea
A drone attack on a tanker off the coast of Romania has left eight of the 12 crew members of the San Marino-flagged 'Wine Trader' vessel missing.
Eight of the 12 crew members of the San Marino-flagged 'Wine Trader' tanker are missing after a drone attack caused a fire off the coast of Romania on Thursday morning. The incident occurred 24 kilometers east of the mouth of the River Danube at Sulina. Romanian authorities have confirmed that search and rescue operations are underway in the Black Sea amidst challenging weather conditions.
Highlights
- The 'Wine Trader' tanker, flying the San Marino flag, was struck by drones off the Romanian coast and caught fire.
- Eight of the 12 crew members are missing, while four have been confirmed alive.
- Romanian President Nicușor Dan confirmed that the attack was carried out by drones.
- Leaders of Romania and Bulgaria are set to discuss invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty.
- The western Black Sea coast has recently experienced an increase in similar drone attacks.
Details
Romanian authorities have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats in the search for the eight missing crew members. High waves in the area are making rescue efforts difficult, with the safety of rescue teams being a priority. The tanker, which was sailing from Tunisia to Romania, reported several explosions on board around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT). Romanian media cited crews from nearby vessels stating that the 'Wine Trader' was hit by two drones.
Russia claims its attacks in the Black Sea target vessels carrying military and dual-use cargo to Ukrainian ports. However, Ukraine and its European allies assert that merchant ships carrying grain and other civilian cargo are being targeted. Earlier this week, two merchant ships were also struck by drones off Bulgaria, with one sinking and 11 crew members going missing. Bulgaria has accused Russia of being behind that attack.
Why it matters
This incident is the latest in a series of escalating security threats in the western Black Sea. Attacks on commercial shipping in the region jeopardize a critical route for Ukrainian exports and imports. The decision by Romania and Bulgaria to discuss invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty highlights the growing concern over regional tensions and their potential impact on NATO's agenda.