Black Sea Crisis: Drone Strikes Leave 31 Sailors Missing or Dead
Maritime traffic in the region has stalled as attacks on commercial vessels multiply, forcing crews to abandon ships and raising fears for grain supply chains.
By Tunde Adeyemi ·
Cargo crews are abandoning vessels in the Black Sea as drone attacks disrupt the region’s shipping lanes, leaving at least 31 seafarers dead or missing. The surge in strikes has forced many commercial operators to halt operations, creating a bottleneck in a key corridor for global trade.
The crisis intensified on Oct. 13 when a sea drone struck the hull of the cargo ship HS Dignity. Just after 1:30 a.m., the 16-person crew, comprising Syrian and Egyptian nationals, donned life jackets as the vessel rolled in heavy swells. Chief Officer Ashraf Mamdouh reported that a boat appeared to be rescuing them before it was revealed to be part of the attacking group. The drone then rammed the ship, preventing the full launch of lifeboats.
Maritime analysts estimate that nearly 50 commercial vessels have been attacked this month. Data from risk firm Ambrey indicate more than 500 attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov this year. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia. Moscow has acknowledged striking dozens of ships, stating they supported Ukraine's military efforts.
Recent strikes have concentrated in the western Black Sea, off the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, search teams responded to a Comoros-flagged ship hit by drones outside Romanian waters. One of its 13 crew members has been recovered, and three remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the incident.
The HS Dignity had sailed from Algeria to load grain in Romania. Of its 16 crew members, five survived, including Mamdouh, who lay in a life raft for four hours before being rescued by the vessel Azov Concord. Eleven are missing, including 18-year-old Hamza Suleiman, a Syrian on his first voyage. His father, Basel, said Mamdouh last saw Hamza wearing a life jacket.
Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. He noted that economic necessity often compels sailors to take these risky jobs. In response to the danger, the Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea.
Shipping companies are reducing their fleets in the region. Demre İşcen, chief financial officer of Turkey-based ED Shipping, said the company has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels. The company is losing millions of dollars each month. Its ship Circon was hit in June, killing two crew members. Ukraine claimed the vessel carried stolen grain and military cargo, a description İşcen disputes.
Mamdouh and his surviving crewmates are currently waiting in Bulgaria for new travel documents. He stated that he will not return to the Black Sea. The surviving crew members are preparing to fly home.
Source: CBC News
