The tanker Contship Jet, owned by Greece, was attacked on Wednesday, October 28, in the Black Sea, 17 miles east of Cape Kaliakra near Varna. This incident took place while the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey were coordinating and reviewing methods to enhance maritime security. The Bulgarian Navy quickly dispatched to the scene and began rescue operations for the crew.
Details of the Attack and Crew Rescue
The Bulgarian Minister of Defense, Dimitar Stoyanov, announced that the tanker was attacked by three surface drones, causing a fire and severe listing of the ship. The Bulgarian Navy, by sending three frigates and a border police vessel, managed to rescue eight crew members and locate 10 others who were in the ship's lifeboat. All rescued individuals were transferred in good condition to the port of Varna. In total, four crew members were Ukrainian and 14 were from the Philippines.
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Background and Security Impacts
The tanker Contship Jet was built in 2007 and has a capacity of 1,276 TEU. This tanker is registered under the flag of Liberia and has been operating for the Greek company Contships Management since 2019. The ship typically operates on the Levant – Black Sea Express route for ZIM, coming from Ashdod and Haifa in Israel and stopping in Romania and Bulgaria.
This incident marks the ninth attack on commercial vessels in the Black Sea since the beginning of October, and reports indicate that 34 sailors have been killed or missing due to these attacks. The defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey announced at the end of their meeting that they are seriously addressing the threats posed by these attacks and called for an immediate halt to attacks on commercial vessels and maritime infrastructure. They also emphasized the need to strengthen information sharing and improve early warning systems.
These incidents have not only increased security concerns in the region but have also heightened tensions in the maritime relations of Black Sea countries. Turkish Minister of Defense, Yasar Guler, stated that Turkey reserves all its legal rights and may consider legal action against attacks on vessels flying the Turkish flag.
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