Cargo Ship Sinks Off Bulgaria After Drone Attack

Bulgarian authorities confirmed that a Liberian-flagged container ship, the Contship Jet, sank after being struck by three maritime drones. The incident occurred on Wednesday, shortly before 1 pm local time, approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, near Cape Kaliakra.

The ship was en route from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, carrying 421 containers. Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov provided details of the attack to reporters. Some containers reportedly contained lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, and gases.

Bulgarian navy and border police boats rescued all 18 crew members, who were taken to Varna for medical checks. The crew included 14 Filipinos and 4 Ukrainians. Navy teams collected samples from the area and found no pollution so far.

This marks the fifth drone attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone this month. Earlier incidents included the sinking of the HS Dignity and damage to the Chelsea 3. On October 23, another cargo ship sank after a suspected drone strike near Constanța, Romania. These attacks have resulted in two deaths and at least 25 missing persons.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. While Russia has not admitted blame, Prime Minister Rumen Radev suggested the logic points to Moscow. NATO members are considering whether the attacks represent a test of their support for Ukraine.

Bulgarian, Romanian, and Turkish defence ministers met in Sofia, where they condemned the attacks and agreed to enhance intelligence sharing and early warning systems. NATO chief Mark Rutte recently stated the alliance has strengthened its eastern flank, including counter-drone capabilities.

NATO’s Article 5 does not apply to attacks in neutral waters, even within a country’s economic zone. Analysts debate whether such zones fall under the treaty’s protections, with some arguing NATO has been too slow to respond. Proof of an attack is also required before any action can be taken.