BUCHAREST, OCT 15: Romanian authorities launched a search and rescue operation off the country’s Black Sea coast on Thursday after a fire broke out aboard a chemical tanker, leaving eight people missing. Four crew members were rescued, officials said.
The fire erupted aboard the San Marino-flagged vessel Wine Trader, which was travelling from Tunisia to Romania. According to the Romanian Naval Authority, 12 people were aboard the ship when the incident occurred approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of the port town of Sulina.
The cause of the fire remained unclear. However, a series of recent drone attacks and incidents involving commercial vessels in the Black Sea has raised concerns about the potential spillover of Russia’s war against Ukraine into neighbouring countries.
Drone Activity Reported Near Romanian Airspace
Romania’s Ministry of National Defence reported monitoring a group of aerial targets overnight near Ukraine’s Snake Island. A drone briefly entered Romanian airspace southeast of Sulina at 1:34 am before disappearing from radar.
The authorities have not established any connection between the reported drone activity and the fire aboard the Wine Trader.
Similar drone incursions have been reported this month in the exclusive economic zones of Romania and Bulgaria, both members of NATO and the European Union.
Another Tanker Catches Fire Near Romania
The latest incident follows a separate fire aboard the Comoros-flagged Yara J, a chemical and oil tanker travelling from Turkey to Sulina. The fire was reported on Wednesday evening in Romanian territorial waters, but all crew members were reported safe.
Romania’s acting Defence Minister, Radu Miruță, said an investigation was underway. He added that military radar had not detected a drone heading towards the vessel.
More Ships Hit in Black Sea Incidents
The latest emergency comes amid a series of incidents involving commercial ships in the Black Sea.
On Tuesday, drone strikes reportedly damaged two vessels off Bulgaria. Eleven crew members aboard the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship HS Dignity remained missing, prompting rescue operations.
The second vessel, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, operated by a Ukrainian company, was struck by three aerial drones, according to its crew. All 15 crew members were evacuated, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Russia was likely responsible for the Tuesday attacks, although responsibility had not been independently established in the report.
The incidents followed another attack a week earlier, when sea and aerial drones struck two commercial vessels within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. A Togo-flagged ship sank, while a Bulgarian ferry evacuated the 18-member crew of a damaged Palau-flagged vessel.
Earlier Attack Killed Two People
On October 5, a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn caught fire following a drone attack and later sank in the Black Sea off Romania’s coast. Two people were killed, while 11 crew members were rescued.
The growing number of maritime incidents has heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping routes in the Black Sea, a strategically important region affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Romanian authorities are continuing rescue efforts to locate the eight missing crew members from the Wine Trader, while investigations into the latest fire remain underway.
