A Greek container ship has sunk after being struck by three naval drones off Bulgaria on Wednesday, according to the Bulgarian government, amid a series of attacks on vessels in the western Black Sea this month.
The incident has raised further concerns about the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on commercial shipping in the region. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack.
Ship sank in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone
The Liberian-flagged CONTSHIP JET was carrying 421 containers when it was hit in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), outside the country’s territorial waters.
The vessel was travelling from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, when it sustained severe damage from the three sea drones.
All 18 crew members were rescued, including 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, and transferred safely to the Bulgarian port of Varna, according to Contships Management.
Concerns over repeated attacks in the Black Sea
At least six ships have reportedly been attacked by drones off Bulgaria this month. Bulgarian government statements have also indicated that around two dozen seafarers are feared dead.
Bulgaria, which is a member of both the European Union and NATO, has sought assistance to strengthen security along its Black Sea coast.
Bulgarian naval commander Kiril Mihaylov told national television that authorities had received a warning of a possible drone attack from a French patrol aircraft but had been unable to prevent the strike.
Authorities check for pollution risks
Initial inspections carried out on Thursday found no visible signs of pollution from the sunken vessel, the Bulgarian government said.
The cargo included lithium-ion batteries, corrosive liquids, acids and industrial components, raising potential environmental concerns following the sinking.
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