The Wine Trader tanker caught fire after multiple explosions in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania. Eight of the 12 crew members are missing. Rescue operations are underway to rescue four people.
bucharest: Eight crew members are missing after a fire and multiple explosions were reported aboard an oil tanker off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea. The San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader was involved in an accident Thursday morning, according to Romanian naval authorities. A total of 12 people were on board, four of whom have been confirmed alive. A massive rescue operation is being carried out to find the missing and reach the surviving members.
Amidst this incident, there have been reports of two drone attacks on the tanker from nearby ships. However, independent confirmation of responsibility for the attack and the exact cause of the incident is still unclear. This development has happened at a time when concerns are increasing about the safety of merchant ships in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war.
The accident happened near the mouth of the Danube river
According to the information received, the wine trader was about 13 nautical miles i.e. about 24 kilometers east of the mouth of the Danube river in the Sulina region of Romania. Meanwhile, the ship reported explosions and fire.
The tanker was heading from Tunisia to Romania. At approximately 7 a.m. local time, i.e. 5 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time, multiple explosions were reported on board the ship. The ship then caught fire and the eight crew members could not be contacted or their condition confirmed.
Romanian authorities launched a search and rescue operation after receiving information about the incident. The work has been said to be challenging for rescue workers due to high waves in the sea.
Black Hawk helicopters and rescue boats deployed
Romanian authorities have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats to search for the missing crew members. Romania's Interior Ministry also released a video, in which a helicopter is seen hovering over the fire-stricken tanker.
The first priority of the rescue operation is to reach the four members on board who have been confirmed alive. Along with this, search is going on for eight missing people. A major challenge facing the authorities is the rough sea conditions. Reaching the ship amid high waves and evacuating people to safety can be risky.
Currently available information does not include the nationality of the crew members, their identities and full details of the damage caused to the ship by the fire.
Fear of two drone attacks, but confirmation awaited
After the incident, reports received from nearby ships claimed that the wine trader was targeted by two drones. Meanwhile, Russian drones were also reported seen at night near Ukraine's Snake Island.
However, based on this information, it is too early to conclude who attacked the tanker or what caused the explosions. Independent confirmation of the incident and the findings of the official investigation have yet to be released.
Russia recently claimed that two cargo ships carrying military material towards Ukraine's Odessa port were targeted during their voyage. Russia did not reveal the names of those ships. No direct connection between this claim and the Wine Trader incident has yet been established.
News of attacks on ships off the coast of Bulgaria also
Incidents involving merchant ships in the western part of the Black Sea are increasing concern. On Tuesday, there was news of drone attacks on two merchant ships off the coast of Romania's neighboring country Bulgaria. According to reports, one of those ships sank and 11 crew members were reported missing after that incident.
Bulgaria had expressed suspicion about Russia's possible role in that attack and summoned the Russian diplomatic representative. However, determining responsibility for an attack requires an independent investigation and corroborative evidence.
These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of navigation, movement of merchant ships and military activities on sea lanes in the region.
Possibility of discussion on Article 4 of NATO treaty
The presidents of Romania and Bulgaria are due to discuss the possibility of invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty amid this development. This provision allows a member state to request formal discussions with its allies if it feels that its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat.
A request for consultations under Article 4 does not in itself constitute a declaration of military action or collective defence. Its purpose is to open the way for discussion and coordination among allied countries on possible security crises.
The importance of such discussions has increased in view of the increasing tension in the Black Sea region. However, it is not clear from the available information whether a formal request under Article 4 has been made.
Black Sea trade affected by Russia-Ukraine war
The Black Sea is an important sea route for Ukraine's exports and imports. Both Ukraine and Russia are among the major suppliers to the global grain market. Therefore, due to disruption in the movement of ships in this region, the supply of agricultural commodities and other commercial goods may be affected.
Ukraine has blamed Russia for earlier attacks on civilian ships in the western Black Sea. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed concern about the Black Sea becoming another front for escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia says its military action targets ships delivering weapons and dual-use materials to Ukrainian ports. On the other hand, Ukraine and its European allies allege that merchant ships carrying grain and other civilian goods are also coming under attack. Moscow has repeatedly rejected US and European calls for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea and has blamed Ukraine for attacks on Russian merchant ships in the area.
Now keeping an eye on the rescue operation and investigation
The fire and explosions aboard the Wine Trader have once again highlighted the risks to maritime safety in the Black Sea. At present, the priority of the Romanian rescue team is to reach the four surviving members safely and to continue the search for the eight missing.
The final conclusions regarding the cause of the explosions on the ship, a possible drone attack and the responsible party can be reached only after investigation. Until then, claims related to the attack should be treated as unconfirmed information. The impact of this incident is not limited to the crew and the ship; It also raises broader questions about the security of merchant shipping in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war.