Escalating Threats in the Black Sea: Attacks on Commercial Vessels Extend to Romanian Waters

Wave of Attacks on Commercial Vessels in the Black Sea: Danger Has Spread to Romanian Territorial Waters

Following the attack on two commercial vessels off the coast of Bulgaria, tankers were targeted near the Romanian shores. After the sinking of HS DIGNITY and the fire on WINE TRADER, a total of 18 sailors were reported missing from these two ships. The incidents, which also involved vessels operating with connections to Turkish ports, have once again brought the safety of commercial navigation in the Black Sea to the forefront.

DenizHaber | File News | October 11-17, 2026

The series of ship attacks in the western Black Sea was followed throughout the week by search and rescue operations, securing damaged vessels, and requests for international assistance. New reports regarding the attacks off the coast of Bulgaria followed concerning vessels in Romanian territorial waters and maritime trade conducted via the Danube. Bulgaria has requested technical support from the European Union and NATO for the investigation of the attacks. Romania announced on October 17 that two drones had been shot down by fighter jets over its territorial waters.

CHELSEA-3, Departing from Giresun, Attacked

According to the technical statement from the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Malta-flagged CHELSEA-3 was attacked on October 13 at 01:15, approximately 17 nautical miles east of Byala. The vessel was sailing in ballast from Turkey's Giresun Port to Moldova's Giurgiulești Port. Following the attack, all 15 crew members on board the anchored ship were rescued.

According to a report from the Associated Press relaying the crew's account, the ship's deck and hull were struck by three aerial drones. There were seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals on board. Five of the rescued sailors received treatment for minor injuries.

In the case of CHELSEA-3, the danger did not end with the evacuation of the crew. The Bulgarian Maritime Administration reported on October 15 that due to deteriorating weather and sea conditions, the vessel was dragged south from its original position and entered a 12 nautical mile area east of Primorsko. The tugboat ALIOT and the rescue vessel SPASITEL 2 were dispatched to secure the ship and tow it to Burgas.

According to a report from the Bulgarian maritime publication Maritime Global on October 17, CHELSEA-3 was towed to Burgas following an operation conducted under challenging weather conditions. Transport Minister Georgi Peev stated that evidence would be collected to determine the source of the damage to the vessel, and the results of the technical examination would be shared with the public and European partners.

HS DIGNITY Sank, 11 Sailors Missing

Just a few minutes after the attack on CHELSEA-3, an attack notification was also reported for the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS DIGNITY. The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport stated that the ship was struck by a drone at 01:20 and sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Shabla. The vessel was also sailing in ballast from Algeria's Mostaganem Port to Romania's Brăila Port.

Of the 16 sailors on board, five were rescued. The ministry reported that the vessels AZOV CONCORD and SCANDI ASSERTER in the area were the first to provide first aid to the surviving crew members. Search and rescue operations were initiated for the other 11 sailors.

According to a statement from Bulgarian authorities on October 14, nine vessels and two helicopters participated in the search efforts, along with passing commercial ships in the area. After approximately 16 hours of continuous work, the operation was suspended due to weather and sea conditions and darkness, but was resumed the following morning.

However, the weather conditions worsened again. The ministry reported that winds from the north-northeast reached speeds of 72 kilometers per hour, rain reduced visibility, and sea conditions deteriorated. It was announced that the search and rescue operation was officially terminated at 15:00 on October 14.

YARA J: Tanker Fire in Romanian Territorial Waters

The next address for attack and fire notifications was around Sulina, one of the main passages of the Danube into the Black Sea. A fire broke out on the Comoros-flagged tanker YARA J on the evening of October 14, approximately nine nautical miles off Sulina. Romanian public broadcaster Radio România Constanța reported that there were 17 crew members on board, consisting of citizens from Syria, India, and Iran.

The same report stated that the fire on the vessel, which was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident, was extinguished by the crew, and there were no injuries. The Romanian Maritime Search and Rescue Agency ARSVOM directed the SAR APOLLO vessel to the area at the request of the maritime rescue coordination center.

Initial statements regarding YARA J indicated that an investigation was underway to determine whether the fire was caused by a drone attack. In a later statement by Romanian President Nicușor Dan, it was reported that both YARA J and WINE TRADER had been struck by drones. According to a Reuters update on October 16, YARA J was towed to Constanța Port with the crew unharmed.

WINE TRADER: Five Rescued, Seven Missing

The San Marino-flagged chemical tanker WINE TRADER was struck on the morning of October 15, approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina, resulting in a fire on board. According to statements based on the Romanian Maritime Administration, of the 12 crew members on the ship sailing from Tunisia to Romania, five were rescued, while seven sailors were reported missing.

Romanian authorities resumed search efforts on October 16 due to worsening weather conditions. According to information reported by Reuters, the operation included plans to deploy a Black Hawk helicopter with four rescue personnel to the vessel, while another ship was to scan the surrounding maritime area.

The WINE TRADER incident was also reflected in official navigation warnings. In the Romanian Hydrographic Office's warning ARN 145/2026, it was noted that the vessel reported a fire at 03:50 UTC on October 15, while it was anchored and without crew. Nearby vessels were instructed to pass at least one nautical mile off and to relay relevant information to the Constanța Maritime Rescue Coordination Center via VHF Channel 16.

When the figures for HS DIGNITY and WINE TRADER are evaluated together, 18 sailors were reported missing. This number does not represent a confirmed death toll; it is the total of the crew members from two separate incidents who have been reported unreachable.

SEA DESTINY and DANIA J Also Reported Attacks

The week's attack notifications were not limited to these four vessels. According to a NATO statement reported by Reuters on October 15, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier SEA DESTINY was targeted in Romanian territorial waters, while the Tanzanian-flagged tanker DANIA J was attacked while moored at Ukraine's Izmail Port on the Danube.

The statement did not provide details regarding the extent of the damage to these two vessels or the status of their crews. Therefore, no additional casualty or injury count related to these two incidents has been added to the tally of this report.

Romania Shot Down Two Drones on October 17

On the last day of the week, a new statement came from the Romanian Ministry of Defense. The ministry reported that two F-16s took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea at 17:43 on October 17 after air targets advancing southwest approximately 120 kilometers east of Snake Island were detected.

According to the official statement, the first target that entered Romanian airspace at 17:59 was shot down at 18:01, and the second target that entered at 18:01 was shot down at 18:05. It was noted that both targets were drones and were shot down over Romanian territorial waters. The ministry's statement did not contain information linking these vehicles directly to the previous ship attacks.

Accusations and Investigations Regarding Responsibility for the Attacks

Following the attacks, accusations against Russia emerged. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev argued that the consequences of the events served Russia's interests while also drawing attention to the issue of evidence to prove responsibility. According to a report by the Associated Press, Russia's ambassador to Sofia stated that he had not received information from the Russian Ministry of Defense and suggested the possibility of provocation by a third party.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also held Russia responsible for the attacks off the coast of Bulgaria. In response, Bulgarian authorities continued their efforts to collect technical evidence and seek examination support from allies.

Speaking to Reuters regarding the tanker attacks near Romania, an unnamed NATO military source stated that the drones were of Russian origin. This statement is characterized as an assessment attributed to the source; it is not a publicly released technical investigation report on its own.

The announcement of an examination to be conducted on CHELSEA-3 after it was taken to Burgas also underscores the importance of physical evidence in determining responsibility. Bulgarian Transport Minister Peev stated that external technical expertise could be sought if necessary.

Bulgaria Requests Technical Assistance from the EU and NATO

Bulgaria was also seeking international support for the investigation of incidents prior to the recent attacks. In a statement on October 12, the government announced that it had requested technical assistance from the European Union and NATO to investigate the attacks on two commercial vessels in the country's exclusive economic zone.

The statement noted that parts that could help identify the source of the drones had not been found, and support was also requested from the European Maritime Safety Agency. The investigation aims to be conducted based on existing material evidence, satellite data, and all information collected regarding the attacks.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that following his meetings with the leaders of Romania and Bulgaria, the alliance's posture on its eastern flank had been strengthened, and capabilities against drones had been enhanced. Rutte indicated that they would continue to work with allies in the Black Sea.

Turkey-Linked Voyages Also at Risk

The direct connection of the events to Turkey is evident in the voyage information of the attacked vessels. CHELSEA-3 had departed from Giresun. YARA J was heading from Turkey to Romania. This information indicates that the attacks were not limited to activities within Ukrainian ports but also extended to routes used by international commercial voyages originating from Turkey.

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova called for an end to drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure, stating that coordinated steps were being taken with Romania and Turkey in light of the increasing risks.

The events of the past week also demonstrate that ship safety is not limited to the moment of attack. Crew evacuations, searches for the missing, securing vessels adrift in severe weather, and issuing navigation warnings for other ships were successive stages of the same crisis. The discussion on the protection of commercial navigation in the Black Sea now centers not only on preventing attacks but also on effective intervention capacity following an attack.

The scope of the news covers the period from October 11 to 17, 2026. The numbers of missing crew members reflect the notifications made during this period and should not be regarded as a confirmed death toll.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye