Newly obtained footage has revealed the aftermath of a maritime drone attack that sank the Greek-managed tanker Contship Jet off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, raising further concerns over the security of commercial shipping in the region.
Euronews obtained previously unseen images of the Liberian-flagged vessel, which was struck by three maritime drones on October 28 while sailing from Israel’s port of Haifa to Constanța, Romania.
The attack took place within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone and marked the fifth reported drone incident involving vessels in the NATO country’s maritime zone during October.
Read more: Drone-Hit Greek Ship Contship Jet Sinks Off Bulgaria, Crew Safe
All 18 crew members were rescued following the attack by Bulgarian naval and border police vessels. The crew consisted of 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, who were transported to the port city of Varna for medical examinations.
Bulgaria’s Military District Prosecutor’s Office opened a preliminary investigation the following day to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Russia has been suspected of involvement in a wider wave of maritime drone attacks targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea, although responsibility for the attack on Contship Jet has not been established.
Hazardous cargo raised environmental concerns
The tanker was reportedly carrying containers containing lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, gases and other potentially hazardous materials, according to maritime.bg.
Bulgarian naval teams collected samples from several locations in the country’s territorial waters and reported no evidence of pollution following the incident.
NATO allies condemn Black Sea attacks
The attack occurred as defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey met in Sofia to discuss growing security threats across the Black Sea.
In a joint statement following the meeting, the three NATO members strongly condemned attacks against commercial vessels and called for an immediate end to actions threatening maritime infrastructure, shipping and the safety of maritime operations.
They also agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing, early warning systems and regional coordination.
The growing number of incidents involving maritime drones off the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts has raised concerns among NATO members about whether Russia is seeking to test the alliance’s resolve as its war against Ukraine continues.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev previously told parliament that the circumstances pointed in that direction, while acknowledging that direct Russian involvement could not be proven.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also addressed the wider threat on October 15, confirming that the alliance had strengthened its eastern flank, including through expanded counter-drone capabilities.
The attack on Contship Jet adds to mounting concerns over the vulnerability of commercial shipping and critical maritime infrastructure in the Black Sea.
