Fifth Black Sea drone hit sinks cargo ship near Bulgaria
Three drones struck the Liberian-flagged Contship Jet, forcing the rescue of 18 crew members and prompting a joint NATO response to protect commercial shipping lanes.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Three maritime drones struck the container ship Contship Jet on Wednesday, and the vessel has since sunk, according to the local maritime administration. The attack occurred approximately 21 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast. This incident marks the fifth drone strike on commercial shipping in the NATO nation's exclusive economic zone this month.
The Greek-managed ship was traveling from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, when the impact occurred. Bulgarian naval and border police vessels rescued all 18 crew members. The group consisted of 14 Filipino and four Ukrainian nationals. Authorities transported the crew to the port city of Varna for medical evaluation.
The cargo hold contained lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, gases, and other hazardous materials. Navy teams collected water samples from multiple locations in Bulgarian territorial waters. Officials reported no signs of pollution resulting from the sinking.
The collision happened while defense ministers from Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey convened in Sofia to discuss regional security. After their talks, the three nations issued a statement condemning the drone attacks on commercial vessels. They called for an immediate cessation of strikes that threaten maritime infrastructure and safety. The ministers also agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing, early warning capabilities, and coordination in the Black Sea.
A pattern of incidents off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria has led some alliance members to question whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing support for Ukraine. Russia has not claimed responsibility for the recent attacks, though suspicion has focused on Moscow. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told Parliament earlier this month that the logic points in that direction, but the problem is that they cannot prove it.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Oct. 15 that the alliance has strengthened its posture along the eastern flank. He noted an increase in counter-drone capabilities in response to the frequent strikes on commercial vessels.
