Wine Trader hit off Sulina with seven crew missing as drones strike Yara J in Romanian waters
The San Marino-flagged tanker was struck one mile outside Romanian waters; Bulgaria has asked NATO for combat aircraft and anti-drone systems
Seven of the 12 crew of the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader are missing after drones struck the ship off the mouth of the Sulina channel, the entrance to the Danube, early on Thursday 15 October. Five crew members were lifted off by helicopter. The ship was hit at least twice, possibly three times, about 13 nautical miles south-east of Sulina, one mile outside Romanian territorial waters; firefighting was suspended and the crew evacuated.
Late on Wednesday 14 October the Comoros-flagged chemical tanker Yara J, 10,018 dwt and built in 2001, caught fire after being struck while anchored 8 to 10 nautical miles south-east of Sulina, inside Romanian waters. Her crew were unhurt, and the ship headed for Constanta. India's shipping minister said the nine Indian seafarers on board were safe. They are reported to be the first drone strikes on a merchant ship inside Romania's territorial waters; earlier attacks in the western Black Sea took place further offshore.
Who was behind the drones?
Romanian President Nicusor Dan said both ships had been struck by drones but did not say whether Russia was responsible. A NATO military official said the drones that set the two tankers on fire inside Romanian territorial waters were of Russian origin. Russia's Ministry of Defence said it had struck two cargo ships near Odesa.
NATO said two more ships had been targeted overnight: the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sea Destiny, inside Romanian waters, and the Tanzanian-flagged tanker Dania J, moored at the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. At least five other cargo ships have been hit off Romania and Bulgaria in the past ten days, with at least 23 seafarers dead or missing.
Where does the search stand?
Romania's interior ministry sent two Black Hawk helicopters and two ships with medical staff, but said a rescue could not be carried out safely because of very large waves. On 16 October Wine Trader remained at anchor about 12 nautical miles off the coast, and Romanian teams were preparing to board her by helicopter and patrol boat to look for the missing crew. In the Bulgarian zone, a tug sent to tow the drifting cargo ship Chelsea 3, struck on 13 October, failed in its first attempt because of the weather.
Bulgaria's defence minister said the country had formally asked NATO for combat aircraft and anti-drone systems, possibly with additional troops, to protect its waters and merchant shipping. Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey will meet to agree a common approach to Black Sea security, building on their joint mine-clearance patrols, and EU leaders are to discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks on civilian ships.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, after meeting Dan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Brussels, said the alliance would keep "adjusting our deterrence and defense posture as needed". Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu called the Black Sea "the deadliest sea when it comes to the number of casualties of sailors in the last months".
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 18 October 2026.
Ships in this story
