Seven Missing After Two Tankers Catch Fire in Romanian Black Sea Waters

Rescuers were searching for seven missing crew members on Thursday after two chemical tankers caught fire overnight in Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea. The incidents occurred after Russian drones had strayed into Romanian airspace, according to Romanian officials.

Romanian officials did not directly link the ship fires to the drone incursions, but the events follow a pattern of drone strikes targeting cargo ships near the coasts of Romania and neighboring Bulgaria over the past ten days. At least 23 sailors were reported missing from those earlier strikes, which occurred just outside NATO's territorial waters.

The two tankers that caught fire, the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader and the Comoros-flagged Yara J, were anchored near the mouth of the Danube River's Sulina Canal, a critical shipping route. The Wine Trader sent an emergency alert, reporting that seven of its twelve crew members were missing, while five were rescued. The Yara J also caught fire, though all its crew were reported safe. The cause of the fire on the Yara J was initially unclear.

Romania shares a long border with Ukraine, much of which follows the Danube River. The country has reported repeated breaches of its airspace by Russian drones. The area near the Danube's mouth is a common anchoring point for ships experiencing delays due to weather and congestion.

The recent attacks on Black Sea shipping are part of the broader conflict stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Both nations are major grain exporters, and disruptions to shipping have raised concerns about global food security. Romania's Foreign Minister Oana Toiu recently described the Black Sea as a "global food artery" and the "deadliest sea when it comes to the number of casualties of sailors in the last months," emphasizing the need for increased deterrence and defense investments.

European Union leaders are scheduled to discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea. Ukraine has increasingly relied on Danube River ports and shipping routes close to Romania and Bulgaria for exports, as Russia has targeted Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Ukraine has, in turn, targeted Russian ships in the Sea of Azov.

Rescue efforts for the missing sailors were hampered by high waves, making safe operations difficult. The Romanian interior ministry deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two ships with medical staff to the scene.