PalauDrones Sink Cargo Ship
A massive search is under way in the Black Sea for the crew of a cargo ship that sank after drones struck two commercial vessels off Bulgaria's coast. The second ship was attacked and caught fire, with all 18 of its crew rescued.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said drones hit two ships off Bulgaria's coast early Tuesday, with one sinking and the crew missing. The crew of the Bulgarian ferry Dioscuria found an overturned lifeboat and life jackets but no one from the crew.
The attack occurred around 70 nautical miles east of the town of Byala in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. A second ship was attacked and caught fire, with all 18 of its crew rescued by the Dioscuria.
Radev said two helicopters were sent to Varna to pick up rescue teams and a Su-25 aircraft was deployed to carry out aerial reconnaissance over the area. The operation is being run by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
Both vessels sent distress signals during the night and one disappeared from Border Police radar at about 9am local time. The sunken ship was named as the Alfa Watan and the second as the Palau-flagged Able.
The Alfa Watan was sailing under the flag of Togo and was headed for the Romanian port of Sulina. The second ship was carrying wheat and sailing south, Radev said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the developments concerning. The attack occurred the day after a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine to Italy was attacked off Romania's coast in the Black Sea by at least one drone and sank after catching fire, killing two crew members.
Radev called the attack absolutely unacceptable, but did not say who launched the drones. Both vessels are Turkish-owned, according to the Equasis merchant shipping database.
Key facts
- Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria's coast, with one sinking and the crew missing.
- The second ship was attacked and caught fire, with all 18 of its crew rescued.
- The attack occurred around 70 nautical miles east of the town of Byala in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone.
- Both vessels are Turkish-owned, according to the Equasis merchant shipping database.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with two helicopters and a Su-25 aircraft deployed to the area. The cause of the attack and the origin of the drones are not yet known. The international community is awaiting further developments.
Positive
The rescue of all 18 crew members from the second ship is a positive development. The swift response of the Bulgarian authorities and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has helped to prevent further loss of life.
Negative
The attack on the two ships is a serious concern, with the crew of the sunken ship still missing. The fact that both vessels are Turkish-owned and were attacked in the same area raises questions about the security of shipping in the region.
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