Eight crew members remain missing following a fire and multiple explosions aboard the tanker Wine Trader off the coast of Romania on Thursday morning, authorities reported. The vessel, registered in San Marino, was approximately 13 nautical miles east of the Danube River mouth near Sulina when the incident occurred.
Romanian naval officials confirmed the outbreak of fire on the tanker and noted the presence of blasts on board. Rescue operations are underway, with two Black Hawk helicopters and two boats deployed in the search for the missing sailors. Four crew members have been confirmed alive so far.
Incident Details and Rescue Efforts
The tanker was en route from Tunisia to Romania when it reported several explosions around 7 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT). Romanian Interior Ministry released video footage showing rescue helicopters hovering above the distressed vessel. The sea conditions are challenging, with very high waves complicating rescue attempts. The priority remains to reach and secure the four surviving crew members while continuing the search for the missing eight.
Context of Drone Attacks on Black Sea Shipping
Recent weeks have seen increased drone activity along the western Black Sea coast, including multiple attacks on merchant ships. Reports indicate the Wine Trader may have been struck by two drone strikes, coinciding with Russian drone detections near Ukraine’s Snake Island. Russia claimed that two cargo ships transporting military goods to Ukraine’s Odesa port were attacked but did not identify the vessels involved.
Additionally, earlier this week, two merchant ships were attacked by drones off Bulgaria’s coast, resulting in one sinking and 11 crew members missing. Bulgaria has accused Russia of involvement and summoned the Russian envoy over the incident.
Potential NATO Involvement and Regional Security Concerns
The presidents of Romania and Bulgaria are scheduled to discuss the possibility of invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows member states to consult allies if they perceive a threat to their territorial integrity or security. This development underlines heightened concerns over regional maritime security amid ongoing conflicts affecting the Black Sea area.
