Grain-laden vessel sinks in Black Sea after drone attack, two seafarers killed
Photo by: Neptun TV
The grain-laden Royad Mammadov, which was sailing from Ukraine’s Izmail port to Italy, was struck by a drone in the Black Sea and sank, News.ro reported, citing Romanian maritime authorities.
The incident occurred on October 5 outside Romania’s territorial waters, southeast of the Pescăruș offshore platform. According to the Romanian Coast Guard, the vessel was approximately nine nautical miles from the platform.
A fire broke out aboard the Royad Mammadov following the drone strike. The vessel subsequently sank.
The Romanian Naval Authority initially reported that the captain was injured and 13 crew members were missing.
Later, Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said that 11 seafarers had been rescued and two others were found dead. Three injured crew members were evacuated by helicopter. Eight of the rescued seafarers were in satisfactory condition and were to be brought ashore by rescue vessels.
The Romanian Agency for the Rescue of Human Life at Sea (ARSVOM) dispatched the SAR Apollo, SAR Artemis and SAR Ares vessels to the area to conduct the search-and-rescue operation. The Coast Guard also joined the operation.
According to ARSVOM, the Constanta Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a distress alert concerning the Royad Mammadov at 10:37 a.m.
UPDATE. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the strike hit a civilian vessel in international waters that was carrying corn and was owned by Turkey. Azerbaijani and Indian nationals were on board.
“As of now, unfortunately, we know that the vessel’s captain was killed. My condolences. The fate of another person is still being determined. Eleven crew members were rescued, one of whom was injured,” Zelenskyy said.
