A commercial vessel has sunk in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania, after reportedly being hit by a drone.
A Romanian navy squad during NATO naval drill ‘Sea Shield 24’ on the Black Sea, off the coast of Constanta, Romania, 16 April 2024. Photo: EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
Romanian maritime authorities launched a rescue operation on Friday morning about 24 kilometres off the coast after a vessel was reportedly struck by a drone.
Rescuers are continuing to search for three missing crew members, according to preliminary reports.
The circumstances of the incident remain unclear, including the origin of the drone and whether the vessel was deliberately targeted.
President Nicusor Dan reacted swiftly to the incident, saying that it “is another event in the process of escalation that Russia is pursuing in the Black Sea region.”
The sinking follows an incident on October 15 when two other commercial ships were hit overnight while anchored in the Black Sea near the mouth of the Danube-Black Sea Canal, a major shipping route used to transport Ukrainian goods. Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have been a frequent target of Russian attacks.
Similar incidents have also occurred in Bulgarian territorial waters, where drone strikes have reportedly left at least 23 sailors dead or missing.
The escalating tensions in the Black Sea have prompted NATO to announce increased surveillance in the region following recent attacks on commercial vessels.
Meanwhile, Romania has proposed that it join Bulgaria and Turkey, the other two NATO member states bordering the Black Sea, in establishing a joint military command to be led by the three countries on a rotational basis.