Fire Breaks Out on Commercial Ship in Romanian Territorial Waters

Romanian authorities said that a commercial ship anchored in Romanian territorial waters caught fire late Wednesday and its crew was evacuated.

This is the latest incident in the Black Sea highlighting risks to maritime navigation near NATO's eastern flank, according to Reuters.

Five commercial ships have been attacked in the Black Sea off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO members, since early October, resulting in the death or disappearance of approximately 23 sailors.

These attacks have highlighted the growing threat posed by drone strikes linked to the Russia-Ukraine war on commercial shipping in the Black Sea.

The Romanian Maritime Authority said on Wednesday that it received a report from the chemical and oil tanker Yara G, which flies the flag of Comoros, stating that a fire had broken out on board. It added that the crew was safe and had been evacuated.

Defense Minister Radu Miruta said it was not yet clear whether the ship had been hit by a drone, and that an investigation into the matter was ongoing.

The ship was anchored approximately 14.8 to 18.52 kilometers southeast of the Sulina Channel, within Romanian territorial waters.

The Sulina Channel on the Danube River is a major route for Ukrainian grain exports, and delays caused by bad weather and staff shortages have led to dozens of ships queuing to pass through.