Black Sea shipping stalls after drone attacks kill 31 sailors
Maritime traffic in the region has nearly stopped as Russia and Ukraine clash at sea, with dozens of commercial vessels targeted this month.
By Olga Menon ·
The Black Sea serves as a critical artery for global grain exports and industrial transport. This week, that flow nearly stopped after a series of drone strikes killed at least 31 seafarers and forced operators to halt regional traffic.
Maritime risk firm Ambrey recorded over 500 attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this year. The data indicates that Russian forces were responsible for 40 of the 45 attacks logged in October alone. Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed striking dozens of ships this month, stating that the targets supported Ukraine's military effort.
The deadliest incident involved the cargo ship HS Dignity, which was attacked just after 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 13. The vessel, carrying a crew of 16 Syrian and Egyptian nationals, was heading from Algeria to Romania to load grain. A sea drone struck the hull, causing the ship to sink. Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh described the chaos as the crew attempted to launch lifeboats. A second, unmanned boat rammed the sinking vessel. Eleven crew members are currently missing, including 18-year-old Syrian sailor Hamza Suleiman.
NATO has responded to the escalating threat by increasing maritime security measures. The alliance is deploying additional patrol boats and radar systems in the western Black Sea. This area, off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, has seen many of the recent attacks. On Friday, a search operation began after a Comoros-flagged ship was hit by drones just outside Romanian waters. One crew member has been recovered, and three remain missing.
Shipping companies are adjusting their operations to mitigate risk. Turkey-based ED Shipping has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels. Chief financial officer Demre İşcen stated that the company is losing millions of dollars monthly. The Philippine government has also barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern part of the sea.
Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in the recent conflict. He noted that while sailors choose these jobs, economic necessity often drives their decisions. Survivors of the HS Dignity are waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to return home. Mamdouh said he would not return to the Black Sea again.
Source: CBC News
