Two merchant ships were struck by aerial drones off Bulgaria on October 13, and one sank as crews and rescuers searched for missing sailors. The incident extends the danger to commercial shipping near a NATO member’s Black Sea coast. Associated Press.
What authorities reported
The Associated Press identified the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 and Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity as the vessels involved. All 15 people aboard Chelsea 3 were evacuated; five received treatment for minor injuries. Five sailors from Dignity were rescued while the search for 11 others continued when the initial reports were filed.
A new incident, separate from last week
Bulgarian National Television reported that the October 13 strikes occurred in the early morning in waters off Byala and Krapets. Other commercial vessels had been struck in the region a week earlier, but these named ships and the Dignity sinking are a separate event.
Why the location matters
Aerial drones reaching civilian ships near coastal waters create a problem for maritime rescue, air surveillance and route planning. Crews may have little warning, and a disabled ship can rapidly become a search-and-rescue emergency. The reported distances from Bulgaria also raise questions about monitoring around busy sea lanes.
What remains uncertain
The source, launch location and precise type of the drones have not been established in the cited reports. Early casualty and rescue figures may change; this account reflects the October 13 information available at preparation time.
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