OMM Newsroom
Romanian rescuers resumed the search on Friday, October 16, for seven sailors missing after a drone struck a chemical tanker near the Black Sea coast. The attacks have heightened security concerns along a major trade route in the region.
The San Marino-flagged tanker “Wine Trader” was hit about 13 nautical miles southeast of the Sulina Canal, outside Romania’s territorial waters. Five of the 12 crew members were rescued. Strong winds and rough seas hampered the search.
A spokesperson for Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs told Reuters that rescuers continued the operation on Friday to search the vessel and locate the remaining crew members.
Romanian officials received reports of attacks on two tankers within about 12 hours. The “Wine Trader” was hit on Thursday morning. The Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker “Yara J” caught fire after a drone attack in Romania’s territorial waters late Wednesday.
According to the Romanian Navy, all 17 crew members aboard the “Yara J” were safe after putting out the fire themselves. The vessel was later towed to the port of Constanta. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said both ships had been hit by drones but did not identify those responsible. A military source from NATO said the drones were Russian in origin.
Helicopters and rescue vessels were deployed in the search operation. The five people rescued from the “Wine Trader” were taken to Constanta for medical assistance.
The attacks came amid a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the western Black Sea. At least five other cargo ships have been hit near the coasts of Romania and neighboring Bulgaria over the past 10 days, with at least 23 sailors reported killed or missing.
The two tankers had been anchored near the mouth of the Sulina Canal, which connects the Danube River to the Black Sea and is considered an important route for Ukrainian exports. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have increased Kyiv’s reliance on Danube ports and shipping routes near Romania and Bulgaria.
“The situation in the Black Sea is serious,” Dan said. He stressed that attacks on commercial vessels put sailors, global trade and critical infrastructure at risk. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would continue working with its Black Sea member states and adjust its deterrence and defense posture as necessary.
