Three maritime drones struck a container vessel east of Cape Kaliakra on Wednesday, and the ship sank around midnight. Bulgarian authorities confirmed that all 18 crew members were rescued and transported to Varna, and that the vessel was carrying lithium‑ion batteries, according to the BTA. The Defence Ministry’s teams have already collected seawater samples from two sites in Bulgarian territorial waters and found no visible pollution, the BTA reports.
The Maritime Administration Executive Agency inspected the sunken ship, identified as CONTSHIP JET, and stated that the vessel was carrying light fuel oil – specifically gas oil – that is expected to evaporate quickly, so no immediate marine or coastal damage is anticipated. The agency will continue ocean monitoring and will collect seawater samples along the Black Sea coast on Thursday at five locations to check for contaminants, the BTA says.
Both BTA reports differ on the cargo. The first article lists lithium‑ion batteries, while the second cites gas oil. Bulgarian maritime officials have not yet confirmed the exact hazardous materials on board. Admiral Emil Eftimov told bTV that the drones likely came from the east and did not enter Bulgarian territorial waters, though he declined to provide further details on the origin of the drones.
According to the Environment and Water Ministry, additional sampling will begin in the surrounding area of the sunken vessel. Five coastal sites—Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol—will be sampled for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and other physicochemical indicators of water quality. Results from the Executive Environment Agency’s laboratories in Varna and Burgas will be released publicly, the ministry said.
A Splash247 article noted that neither attack has been independently verified and that Russia has provided no vessel identities, labeling the claim as unverified. The incident is the fifth drone attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone since early October, adding to growing concern over maritime security in the Black Sea.
