Ship sinks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast after being hit by drones
SOFIA, Bulgaria - A Liberian-flagged container ship, the Contship Jet, sank off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast after being targeted by three drones, according to the local maritime administration. The vessel, managed by Greece, was en route from Israel's Haifa port to Romania's Constanța. The three maritime drones struck the ship about 21 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast on Wednesday. The incident marked the fifth drone attack on commercial vessels in the NATO nation's exclusive economic zone that month.
All 18 crew members, comprising 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, were safely rescued by Bulgarian naval and border police vessels and taken to the port city of Varna for medical examination. The containers on board carried hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, and gases. Despite the attack, the maritime team found no evidence of pollution in the area.
The attack came as defense ministers from Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey convened in Sofia to address security concerns in the Black Sea region. The NATO countries strongly condemned the drone attacks on commercial vessels, calling for an immediate end to the attacks threatening shipping and maritime activities. They also agreed to enhance intelligence sharing, early warning capabilities, and coordination in the Black Sea region.
Some alliance members have raised suspicions that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be testing their support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing full-scale invasion. However, Russia has not acknowledged responsibility for the recent attacks. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev suggested in a recent parliamentary address that the evidence points to Moscow's involvement, though he acknowledged the lack of proof.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed on October 15 that the alliance had strengthened its presence along the eastern flank, bolstering counter-drone capabilities in response to the increasing frequency of strikes on commercial vessels.
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