In brief
The container ship, identified as CONTSHIP JET, was struck by three maritime drones southeast of Shabla, sank around midnight on Wednesday, and all 18 crew members were rescued. Bulgarian authorities have begun extensive seawater sampling, testing for petroleum, PCBs, metals, and other indicators. An assessment by the Maritime Administration indicates no immediate adverse environmental effects from the light fuel oil cargo.
A container vessel hit by three maritime drones plunged beneath the water near Shabla on Wednesday evening, according to reports from the Varna Regional Administration.
All 18 crew members were rescued by Bulgarian authorities and transported to Varna. According to the Maritime Administration Executive Agency, the ship, named CONTSHIP JET, was carrying 421 containers, including light fuel oil, specifically gas oil, which is expected to evaporate quickly and not reach the Bulgarian coast.
While the ship’s cargo also included lithium‑ion batteries, as reported only by BTA, officials have indicated that the fuel oil was the primary hazardous material on board. The vessels’ 18 crew comprised 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians.
BTA reported that the ship sank around midnight about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, east of Cape Kaliakra. Teams from the Defence Ministry collected samples from two sites in Bulgarian territorial waters, finding no visible signs of pollution. Additional seawater sampling will occur on Thursday at five coastal locations—Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala, and Sozopol—plus around the area where the ship sank.
Samples will be tested for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals, and other physicochemical indicators, with analysis conducted at the Executive Environment Agency’s regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas. The Environment and Water Ministry said results will be made public.
The Maritime Administration stated that an initial assessment found no significant adverse effects on the marine environment or coastline at this stage. Monitoring of the marine environment is continuing, and authorities remain prepared to respond promptly if a pollution risk or change in situation is detected.
