The Liberian tanker CONTSHIP JET sank on October 28, 2026, due to an attack by three maritime drones off the coast of Bulgaria. This incident occurred amid an increase in maritime attacks in the Black Sea this month, raising concerns about the impact of the war in Ukraine on maritime transport in the region.
Incident Details
The CONTSHIP JET tanker, carrying 421 containers, was severely damaged while passing through Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on its route from Haifa in Israel to Constanta in Romania. The drone attack on the tanker occurred while the vessel was outside Bulgarian territorial waters.
The crew of this tanker included 14 Filipinos and 4 Ukrainians, all of whom were safely transferred to the port of Varna in Bulgaria. Verified video footage shows a maritime drone approaching the hull of the tanker, followed by a large explosion that caused the ship to sink.
Analysis and Consequences
Maritime analysts believe that the drone used in this attack may be a type of Russian drone. Tamas Alexa, a senior analyst at a maritime risk management company, stated that this unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is likely inspired by Russian design.
The Bulgarian government has reported that at least six ships have been attacked by drones off the coast of Bulgaria this month, and about two dozen sailors have gone missing in these attacks. While it is still unclear who is responsible for these attacks, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has stated that some of these attacks appear to be in favor of Russia.
Bulgarian officials have requested assistance to strengthen their maritime security. Commander Mihailov, head of the Bulgarian Navy, stated in an interview that officials were informed by a French patrol aircraft about the possibility of a drone attack but were unable to stop it.
Given the presence of cargo including lithium-ion batteries and hazardous chemicals on the tanker, the Bulgarian government has stated that initial investigations show no signs of pollution from the tanker.
