Black Sea Drone Strike Sinks Cargo Ship—Crew Still Missing
Bulgarian PM calls attack in EEZ a "flagrant violation of maritime law" as search continues for missing sailors
Two commercial vessels came under drone attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea early Tuesday, leaving one ship sunk and its crew missing. The strikes occurred approximately 70 miles (112 km) off the Bulgarian coast near the town of Byala, according to Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
The Alfa Watan, a Turkish-owned general cargo ship flying the Togo flag, suffered severe structural damage and sank. Authorities have not disclosed the number of crew members aboard or the ship’s cargo. The vessel, built in 1976 with a deadweight capacity of 3,160 tonnes, was en route to the Romanian port of Sulina when the attack occurred.
Ships targeted and immediate aftermath: Black Sea
A second ship, the Able, registered under the Palau flag and carrying grain, was also hit. A fire broke out following the strike, forcing all 18 crew members—11 Turkish and 7 Indian nationals—to abandon the vessel. Two sailors sustained injuries and received first aid before being transported to shore for further medical treatment. The 7,416-tonne ship, operated by Istanbul-based Ocean Eagle, was located about five nautical miles (9 km) from the Alfa Watan at the time of the incident.
Distress signals from both ships were detected at around 4 a.m. local time, with one vessel vanishing from radar by 9 a.m.. A Bulgarian border police vessel reached the scene and discovered overturned lifeboats, rafts, and life jackets, prompting a search operation for the missing crew of the Alfa Watan. The Bulgarian-flagged ferry Dioscuria rescued the Able’s crew and transported them to safety.
Radev condemned the attacks as a “flagrant violation of maritime law”, emphasizing that such an incident within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone was “absolutely unacceptable.” He convened an emergency meeting with officials from the defense, interior, transport, and environment ministries, along with Bulgaria’s security services, to address the situation. The origin of the drones remains unidentified, and Bulgarian authorities have not attributed responsibility.
Bulgarian response and broader implications
The country’s exclusive economic zone covers over 29,000 square kilometers (11,197 square miles), roughly 6% of the Black Sea. While the zone grants Bulgaria rights over marine resources, it does not extend to territorial waters. The incident underscores the growing risks to commercial shipping in the region, where war-related debris and unexploded ordnance have become increasingly common.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Varna, led by Rumen Nikolov, continues to oversee search and environmental response efforts. The focus remains on locating the missing crew and ensuring the safety of vessels navigating the area.
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