Remains Found on Tanker in Varna Likely from Drone-Hit Wine Trader
Prosecutors in Varna, on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, say badly damaged human remains have been found aboard a chemical tanker that is under repair in Bulgaria. The remains were discovered while workers were clearing debris from the ship. The tanker, which flies the San Marino flag, matches the description of the Wine Trader, which was hit by a drone on 15 October about 24 km south-east of Sulina in Romania. Sulina sits where the Danube’s Sulina channel meets the Black Sea.
There were 12 people on board the Wine Trader when it was struck. Five were rescued alive, and seven were reported missing. The prosecutors have ordered DNA tests because the remains are too damaged to say how many people they belong to. A Bulgarian law-enforcement source told the news agency AFP that the number of victims is most likely six.
From the CrewMirror Blog
Romania’s naval authority said the tanker was empty at the time of the attack, and Romania’s President said a drone caused the damage. Both Romania and Bulgaria have opened investigations.
According to AFP, at least nine merchant ships have been hit by drones off Romania and Bulgaria since early October, leaving 34 people dead or missing. Bulgaria has asked NATO to send warplanes and counter-drone equipment to help protect its waters.
CrewMirror Takeaway
The discovery is a grim reminder that the western Black Sea remains a high-risk area. Seafarers asked to sail there should confirm war-risk cover, follow the latest security advisories and know their right to refuse to enter a warlike area.
