Seven crew missing after two chemical tankers catch fire near Romania's Sulina Canal

Two chemical tankers caught fire while anchored near the mouth of Romania's Sulina Canal, which links the Danube River to the Black Sea. The fires broke out between 14 October and the night into Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Seven crew members are missing. Romanian authorities are conducting a search and rescue operation.

The missing crew are from the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader. Five crew members from that ship were rescued or are safe. The other tanker, the Comoros-flagged Yara J, caught fire earlier. All its crew are safe and accounted for.

According to Deutsche Welle, the Wine Trader had 12 crew members. Its emergency alert prompted Romania's naval authority to launch the search. Ars Technica reported that the Yara J was struck within Romania's territorial waters and the Wine Trader about one mile outside them.

Deutsche Welle reported that the fires occurred after Russian drones entered Romanian airspace. It also reported that Romanian officials have not explicitly said drones caused the fires.

A wider pattern

Ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO members, have been hit by repeated drone attacks in recent days. A ship sank off Bulgaria's coast on Tuesday, 13 October, following a drone attack.

According to Deutsche Welle, drone strikes hit at least five other cargo ships off the two countries in the previous 10 days, and at least 23 sailors were lost. Ars Technica, citing a NATO statement, reported two more ships targeted overnight: the bulk carrier Sea Destiny inside Romanian waters and the tanker Dania J in the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. It reported no immediate details on damage or casualties.

Deutsche Welle reported that Bulgaria summoned the Russian ambassador over the sinking. According to Reuters, as cited by Ars Technica, an anonymous NATO source attributed the attacks to Russia. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a response from Russia or an on-record official attribution.

What each side says

The leaders of Romania and Bulgaria held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about the attacks. Afterwards, Romanian President Nicusor Dan wrote on X: "This is unacceptable and it has to stop. Lives, global trade, and critical infrastructure are at stake."

Rutte said: "NATO has strengthened our posture along the eastern flank including with increasing counter-drone capabilities." According to Deutsche Welle, he said NATO would "continue to work closely with our allies in the Black Sea, adjusting our deterrence and defense posture as needed."

Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta told the Digi24 television channel, according to Deutsche Welle, that an investigation is under way into whether the Wine Trader was hit by a drone. He called the incidents "a matter of significant gravity, given that such incidents are occurring in Romanian territorial waters."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the EU summit in Brussels will discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea.

Analysis

The incidents test how NATO responds to attacks near, but not always inside, allied territorial waters. Several key questions remain open. Romania has not issued a finding on what caused the fires. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi contain no on-record official attribution and no Russian response. Possible next steps include further NATO counter-drone deployments, which have been requested, or progress on the moratorium proposed for the EU summit. Neither outcome is assured. According to Deutsche Welle, the Danube and its ports are now frequently used by Ukrainian vessels as Ukraine's Black Sea ports come under attack, and Ukrainian ships also choose Black Sea routes close to the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. Continued attacks could therefore affect grain flows and insurance costs, though the scale of any such effect is not yet clear.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.