Khoryv Catches Fire and Capsizes in Black Sea After Suspected Drone Attack
Cubierto por 4 fuentesPublicado
- safety 4seaOne dead, three missing after cargo ship reportedly hit by drone in the Black Sea
- ports europeCargo ship hit by Russian drone 20 km off Romania’s Constanta port
- lloyds listSeafarer killed, three missing after drone strike on vessel off Romania
- MARITIME_EXECUTIVERomania Blames Russia for Ship Attack Leaving 1 Dead and 3 Missing
The Comoros-flagged cargo vessel Khoryv caught fire and capsized on October 23, 2026, in the Black Sea, about 13 nautical miles east of Constanta, Romania, outside the country's territorial waters. The incident left one crew member dead and three missing, amid suspicions of a drone attack that Romanian authorities had not yet officially confirmed, according to Safety4Sea, although outlets such as Ports Europe and Lloyd's List had already attributed it to a Russian drone strike.
The vessel and its crew
The Khoryv is an OBO (oil/bulk/ore combination carrier) built in 1983, with a length of 119 meters and a deadweight tonnage of 3,280, owned by Greek interests, according to Maritime Executive. It carried 13 crew members, ten Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis, and was sailing from Turkey to the Romanian port of Sulina, which provides access to the Danube—a route Ukraine resumed using following Russian attacks in the Black Sea.
Rescue operation
Romania's Ministry of Interior stated that the vessel suffered severe damage and faced imminent risk of sinking following the fire. A nearby merchant ship rescued ten crew members—nine alive and one deceased—who were brought ashore by the Romanian Coast Guard, while the search continued for the three remaining seafarers. The rescue vessel SAR Artemis, operated by the Romanian Naval Authority for Saving Human Life at Sea (ARSVOM), set sail from the port of Constanta after the alert was received around 10:00 a.m. local time, although bad weather and low visibility prevented the deployment of a rescue helicopter.
Political reactions
Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the attack, calling it another example of the tragic consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine and urging Moscow to accept the ceasefire proposals put forward by the United States and Europe. Romania's new prime minister described the incident as unacceptable and a flagrant violation of international law, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned these attacks for endangering innocent lives and openly defying international law.
A series of attacks
The incident adds to an escalation of attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria: according to Safety4Sea, at least seven cargo ships were targeted in the region during October, resulting in deaths and disappearances, while Maritime Executive put the number of seafarers reported dead or missing during that period at thirty. Prior incidents include fires aboard two tankers off Romania on October 15 and the attack on the vessel Wine Trade near the Sulina Canal, which left seven crew members missing.
NATO and EU response
Faced with deteriorating maritime security, NATO announced on October 20 that it would strengthen surveillance in the Black Sea with more maritime patrol aircraft, radars and drones, while Romania accelerated the development of surveillance and anti-drone countermeasure capabilities. On Thursday, the European Parliament approved a resolution by a vote of 432 in favor, 52 against and 88 abstentions, recommending an assessment of a possible EU naval operation in the Black Sea and calling on Bulgaria to adopt a firmer stance, as well as to join NATO's anti-drone initiative.
