Black Sea Ship Strike
Grain cargo ship hit off Romanian coast leaves thirteen crew members missing
Anonymous
Key Points
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The ship had departed Ukraine’s port of Izmail and was bound for Ravenna, Italy.
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Romania’s Maritime Coordination Center requested a rescue mission at 10:37 a.m. local time; rescue ships and a Coast Guard vessel were sent to the area.
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The Sun reported that the vessel sails under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and is about 140 metres long.
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Local outlet PRO TV News reported, citing sources, that the ship was hit by “two or three drones”; the number of drones and the cause of the explosion had not been confirmed.
A Turkish cargo ship carrying grain was struck by a suspected drone in the Black Sea off Romania's coast, sparking a massive fire and leaving 13 crew members missing. The Royad Mammadov, traveling from Ukraine to Italy, was hit about 20 nautical miles from shore and was abandoned as flames engulfed the vessel, according to Metro. Romanian authorities launched an urgent search-and-rescue operation, with the ship's captain reported injured.
The strike's cause remains unconfirmed, though PRO TV News reported sources indicating the ship was hit by two or three drones. The Sun noted the 140-meter vessel sails under the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag. Romania's Maritime Coordination Center received the distress call at 10:37 a.m. local time and immediately deployed rescue ships and Coast Guard vessels to the area.
Cargo Ship Struck While Heading to Italy
The Royad Mammadov departed Ukraine's port of Izmail bound for Ravenna, Italy, when the strike occurred. Greek City Times reported the cargo ship carries grain and operates under a Turkish owner. The vessel was roughly 20 nautical miles off Romania's coast when it was hit, well within international shipping lanes used to move grain from Ukrainian ports.
Fire Forces Immediate Evacuation
The impact triggered a massive fire that spread rapidly across the cargo ship. The crew was forced to abandon the vessel, which was left adrift in the Black Sea. Head Topics reported that 13 sailors are now missing following the evacuation. The captain suffered injuries during the incident, though the extent remains unclear.
Search and Rescue Operation Underway
Romanian authorities responded swiftly after receiving the distress call at 10:37 a.m. local time. The Romanian Agency for Lifesaving at Sea dispatched multiple rescue ships and a Coast Guard vessel to the site. Helicopter footage captured the rescue efforts as searchers worked to locate the 13 missing crew members in the waters off Romania's coast.
Drone Strike Details Remain Unconfirmed
While a suspected drone strike caused the incident, the exact details are still unclear. PRO TV News cited sources suggesting two or three drones hit the ship, but the claim has not been independently verified. The cause of the fire and the weapon responsible for the strike remain officially unconfirmed by NATO authorities or international maritime bodies.
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