In brief
A chemical tanker off Romania’s coast was struck by drones, setting it ablaze and leaving seven of twelve crew members missing. The ship, the Wine Trader, had no cargo aboard and reported explosions at 07:00 GMT. Rescuers deployed helicopters and boats amid rough seas, prioritizing life‑saving for the remaining four crew. The incident is part of a broader pattern of drone attacks on Black Sea shipping, raising concerns and prompting Romanian and Bulgarian leaders to discuss potential NATO Article 4 action.
Seven crew members are missing after a drone attack left a chemical tanker ablaze off Romania’s coast in the early morning on Thursday.
The San Marino‑flagged Wine Trader was sailing 13 nautical miles east of the mouth of the Danube when it heard blasts and saw flames erupt on board.
Romanian authorities say the ship was empty of cargo and that two drones hit it, while Moscow later claimed its own drones struck a cargo vessel heading to Odesa.
Rescue teams have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two boats to the scene, battling high waves while they search for the missing crew.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan confirmed that the ship was struck and that efforts are underway to reach the four crew members reported to be alive. The interior ministry released a video of a helicopter hovering over the burning tanker.
As the incident unfolded, a swarm of Russian drones was detected near Ukraine’s Snake Island, and the West coast of the Black Sea has seen a surge in drone attacks on merchant ships.
Bulgaria and Romania are now discussing whether to invoke NATO’s Article 4, which allows member states to request consultations if they feel their security is threatened. Their leaders will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels to plan further actions.
The broader context is a tense Black Sea region where both Russia and Ukraine claim to target merchant vessels. While Ukraine argues the ships carried civilian cargo, Russia says they were delivering military supplies.
In the last week, two ships were hit off Bulgaria, one of which sank, leaving 11 crew members missing. The oil tanker in Sochi was also struck by Ukrainian forces.
Turkey has called for a halt to attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, while Israel’s political leadership has condemned the rising naval conflict.
