Contship Jet Sinks After Drone Strikes Off Bulgaria

The Contship Jet listed and sank in the Black Sea on Thursday after three maritime drones struck the vessel on Wednesday. The Liberian-flagged ship was operating approximately 21 nautical miles from the Bulgarian coast when the attack occurred. This incident represents the fifth drone strike on a ship within the NATO nation's exclusive economic zone in the current month.

The vessel had departed Haifa, Israel, and was heading toward Constanța, Romania. It was managed by Greek operators and carried a crew of 18. Fourteen members of the crew were Filipinos and four were Ukrainians. Bulgarian naval and border police units rescued all personnel. The crew members were transported to the port city of Varna for medical examinations.

Cargo manifests indicated the ship held lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, gases, and other hazardous materials. Navy teams collected water samples from multiple points in Bulgarian territorial waters. They reported no signs of pollution from the sinking vessel.

The attack occurred while defense ministers from Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey convened in Sofia to discuss regional security. The three NATO nations issued a joint statement condemning the strikes on commercial vessels. They called for an immediate cessation of attacks that threaten commercial ships, maritime infrastructure, and the safety of maritime activities. The ministers also agreed to enhance intelligence sharing and early warning capabilities in the Black Sea.

A series of incidents off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria has raised questions among alliance members about Russian intentions. Some in the alliance believe President Vladimir Putin is testing support for Ukraine during the war with Moscow. Russia has not claimed responsibility for the recent strikes, though suspicion remains on Moscow. Prime Minister Rumen Radev told Parliament earlier this month that the logic points in that direction, though the country cannot prove it.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Oct. 15 that the alliance had strengthened its posture along the eastern flank. He noted an increase in counter-drone capabilities in response to frequent strikes on commercial vessels.