Understand
Eight crew missing following tanker fire off Romania's coast
Overview
Eight out of 12 crew members are missing after a fire and reported explosions broke out on the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader off the coast of Romania. The vessel was located about 13 nautical miles east of the River Danube's mouth at Sulina when the incident occurred. While naval authorities launched a search and rescue operation, nearby ships reported unconfirmed claims that the tanker was hit by two drones amid recent drone activity in the Black Sea region.
Key points
- Eight out of 12 crew members are missing following a fire and explosions on the tanker Wine Trader.
- The incident occurred about 13 nautical miles east of the River Danube's mouth at Sulina off Romania's coast.
- Unconfirmed reports from nearby ships suggest the tanker may have been hit by two drones.
- The western Black Sea has recently experienced a spate of drone attacks, including incidents near Ukraine's Snake Island and the coast of Bulgaria.