Romanian authorities have launched search and rescue operations in the Black Sea in a bid to find seven crew members missing from a chemical tanker that caught fire overnight on Thursday.
Another ship, also a chemical tanker, was also set on fire in the same area a few hours earlier, but its entire crew is believed to be safe.
The fires occurred after Russian drones strayed into Romanian airspace, although Romanian authorities have so far not explicitly stated that the unmanned aircraft were the cause of the fires.
However, drone strikes have taken place on at least five other cargo ships off the coasts of neighboring Romania and Bulgaria – both NATO members – over the past 10 days, leaving at least 23 sailors lost in these incidents.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan met with NATO chief Mark Rutte to address the situation.
“This is unacceptable and it must stop. Lives, global trade and critical infrastructure are at stake,” Dan wrote on X after a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte to discuss a recent wave of such attacks.
“NATO has strengthened our position along the eastern flank, including by increasing our counter-drone capabilities,” Rutte said of the incident.
He said the military alliance would “continue to work closely with our allies in the Black Sea, adjusting our deterrence and defense posture as needed.”
What do we know about ship fires in the Black Sea?
Both ships were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina Canal leading to the Black Sea from the Danube when they caught fire.
Romania’s naval authority said it launched its search and rescue operation after receiving an emergency alert from the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader.
Five of the 12 crew members were said to be safe, while seven were missing.
“Whether it was hit by a drone or not, an investigation is currently underway,” Defense Minister Radu Miruta told broadcaster Digi24.
“This is a matter of great seriousness, given that such incidents occur in Romanian territorial waters,” he said.
The other fire, which broke out earlier, occurred on board the Comorian-flagged chemical tanker and oil tanker Yara J.
Ships often use the canal as a place to anchor in case of delays caused by weather or traffic jams.
Growing attacks in the Black Sea
Romania, which shares a 614-kilometer (381-mile) border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube, has reported repeated violations of its airspace by Russian drones over the past four years during Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
The Danube and its ports are now frequently used by Ukrainian ships, with Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea under attack by Russian forces.
Ukrainian ships also choose routes in the Black Sea, near the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts.
It comes as shipping in the Black Sea has come under increasing attack in recent months, which has sharply reduced grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia, two major grain exporters.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Thursday that the EU, of which his country and Romania are members, would discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea at its ongoing summit in Brussels.
Bulgaria summoned the Russian ambassador on Tuesday following the sinking of a ship off the country’s coast following a drone attack.
Edited by: Rana Taha
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