In brief
The tanker Wine Trader exploded 13 nautical miles east of Sulina after being struck by two drones, leaving eight of its 12 crew missing. Romanian authorities are conducting a search and rescue operation with two Black‑Horn helicopters and two boats, while waves reach high levels. The incident occurs amid a spike of hostile drone strikes on commercial shipping in the western Black Sea, prompting NATO leaders to discuss possible Article 4 action. Ukraine blames Russia for targeting merchant vessels, whereas Russia says it is striking military supply ships. The incident highlights escalating tensions and the risks to civilian maritime traffic in the conflict‑affected region.
Eight of the 12 crew members aboard the San Marnino‑flagged tanker Wine Trader are missing after the ship caught fire and exploded 13 nm east of the Danube mouth, Romanian naval authorities said today.
The vessel, bound from Tunisia to Romania, reported blasts and a blaze at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT). Video released by the interior ministry shows a Black‑Horn helicopter hovering above the wreck.
Romania’s search‑and‑rescue teams have deployed two Black‑Horn helicopters and two hovercraft‑oriented rescue boats, while a large wave set reaches heights of up to 7 m, complicating rescue efforts. The priority is to reach the four crew members confirmed alive and to prevent further loss of life.
Sources say the tanker was hit by two drones, reportedly Russian, near Ukraine’s Snake Island before it caught fire. This follows a series of drone attacks on merchant ships in the western Black Sea, including a cargo vessel that sank off Bulgaria with 11 crew missing.
In response to the escalating threat, Romanian and Bulgarian presidents are slated to discuss invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which enables member states to seek collective advice when their territorial integrity is threatened.
Ukraine blames Russia for these attacks, claiming Russian forces target vessels delivering weapons and dual‑use cargo to Ukrainian ports, while Moscow maintains that the attacks are aimed at military supplies and rejects calls for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea.
The incident underscores growing maritime risks amid the ongoing conflict, with both sides denting each other’s commercial shipping lanes in an area already crucial for grain exports and energy supplies.
