Sinking of merchant vessel under Dominican flag following alleged attack in the Black Sea
A merchant vessel operating under the flag of the Dominican Republic, identified as Progress IV, sank this Friday in the waters of Romania’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. The vessel shipwrecked after suffering a fire, allegedly caused by a drone attack while it was on a commercial route to the Turkish port of Tekirdag.
Successful rescue operation
The emergency was reported during Thursday night, after another merchant vessel in the area alerted the Romanian Coast Guard about the presence of shipwrecked people. Despite adverse conditions, with waves reaching 2.5 meters in height, the authorities deployed an immediate rescue operation.
- Crew: The vessel had 12 sailors (eight of Ukrainian nationality and four from Azerbaijan), who were rescued alive.
- Health status: After being transferred to a hospital, all crew members received medical attention, noting that only one presented minor injuries to their hands, and they were discharged satisfactorily.
Incident load and details
The Progress IV was carrying a cargo consisting of 199 containers of sugar and approximately 5,643 tons of clay. According to survivor testimonies, the vessel was struck by three drones within the span of an hour, receiving hits on both the port and starboard sides, which led to the fire and subsequent sinking.
The ship was hit and it seems it sank. But for now we do not know who hit it or why.
Nicusor Dan, President of Romania
Tensions in the Black Sea and maritime security
This event has raised alarms in the international maritime sector. The Free Seafarers’ Union has pointed out that the risk to commercial navigation in the area has increased drastically due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Experts suggest that the attack may have been carried out with incendiary or “dragon” type drones, equipped with thermite or explosive charges.
Currently, the Romanian Naval Authority is conducting an exhaustive investigation to clarify the exact causes of the sinking and determine the authorship of the impacts, in a context where the Black Sea has become a high-danger zone for civilian vessels.
