In brief
A tanker bound from Tunisia to Romania caught fire 13 nautical miles east of the Danube mouth after reports of explosions. Authorities suspect a drone attack amid recent Black Sea drone incidents. Eight of 12 crew are missing, while four are believed alive. Search and rescue with helicopters and boats continues in gale‑filled waters as regional tensions rise over the conflict.
Eight of the 12 crew members are missing after a tanker caught fire off Romania’s coast, naval authorities say. The San Marino‑flagged vessel, Wine Trader, was 13 nautical miles east of the mouth of the Danube at Sulina when it reported blasts and a fire on Thursday morning. Russian drones were detected point‑blank near the scene, raising suspicions that the tanker was struck by two drones – a claim echoed by reports from nearby ships that the blasts may have been drone‑related.
The ship was bound from Tunisia to Romania and had reported several explosions on board at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT). The government has deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats. A video released by the Romanian interior ministry shows one helicopter hovering above the vessel while rescue teams work amid high waves.
Authorities say the priority is to reach the four crew members confirmed alive and to keep search and rescue teams safe amid rough seas. Rescue operations are ongoing and the search continues for the eight missing. Meanwhile, Romania and Bulgaria are set to discuss whether to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a step that would trigger consultations among alliance members if a member’s territorial integrity is threatened.
The incident follows a spate of Black Sea drone attacks that have targeted merchant ships carrying goods between Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s maritime authorities reported a sinked ship after a drone strike, and Ukraine has held Russia responsible for earlier attacks on civilian vessels. The broader conflict over Ukraine’s security has made the Black Sea a contested region for maritime traffic, and Russia has denied calls for a naval ceasefire in the area.
