Black Sea Shipping Crisis: 12 Crew Rescued After Drone Strike
Romania’s President confirms probe into suspected drone attack on Progress IV, carrying sugar to Turkiye.
Romanian authorities confirmed the sinking of a cargo ship in the Black Sea after a suspected drone strike on Thursday evening. The Progress IV, a 122-meter vessel carrying sugar to Türkiye, caught fire before going down in Romania’s exclusive economic zone. All 12 crew members were rescued, though one sustained serious injuries.
The Progress IV, registered under the Dominican Republic flag, issued a distress call following the incident. Within 20 minutes, two rescue vessels and a nearby commercial ship, the Mohamed B, reached the location. Romania’s Border Police recovered 10 crew members, while the Mohamed B saved the remaining two.
The ship had departed from Sulina, a port on the Danube River, and was reportedly en route to load grain in Ukraine before the attack. Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated that the exact cause remains under investigation, cautioning against premature conclusions. Fighter jets later identified debris from an unidentified object near Snake Island, adding to the complexity of the probe.
Rapid Response Saves Crew After Suspected Attack: black sea shipping
The incident highlights the growing dangers for commercial vessels in the region. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, attacks on ports and critical infrastructure have intensified, disrupting shipping routes. Dan revealed that Romania had formally requested Ukraine to halt strikes on tankers transporting oil and gas from the Russian port of Novorossiysk to Romanian facilities.
The crew consisted of eight Ukrainian and four Azerbaijani nationals. The Progress IV, built in 2005, was the latest victim of the conflict’s expanding impact on maritime security.
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