In brief
The Wine Trader tanker caught fire and exploded shortly after being struck by two drones off the coast of Romania. Eight of twelve crew members went missing while eight other survivors were found by rescue helicopters and boats. Maritime authorities are on high alert after a wave of drone attacks in the Black Sea, prompting calls for NATO security consultations. Romanian officials have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue vessels to search the wreck, as rough seas threaten rescue operations. The incident highlights escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the constant risk to civilian shipping in the region.
A San Marino-flagged tanker erupted in flames five kilometres east of the mouth of the River Danube, off the coast of Romania. The incident left eight of its twelve crew members unaccounted for, with a fire and several explosions reported aboard.
The vessel, named Wine Trader, was on a voyage from Tunisia to Romania when it first reported a series of blasts at 07:00 local time.
Romanian authorities say the tanker was struck by two drones, part of a growing wave of aircraft attacks on maritime traffic in the Black Sea. Russian drones were detected over the region near Ukraine’s Snake Island earlier in the night.
Search and rescue teams have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats to the site. An interior ministry video shows a helicopter hovering over the beleaguered ship as crews grapple with high waves and an unsteady fire.
Officials are prioritising reaching the four crew members who remain alive, while ensuring the safety of emergency personnel amid rough seas.
The incident could trigger a discussion between Romania and Bulgaria about invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, allowing member states to seek consultations when a member’s security is threatened.
This flare‑up follows a series of attacks on civilian vessels, which Ukrainian officials blame on Russian forces and which have drawn condemnation from the European Union.
