Eight missing after fire on chemical tanker in Black Sea

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 11:32 · Archive

Eight crew members are missing after a fire broke out on a chemical tanker in Romanian waters.

Eight crew members are missing after a fire broke out on Thursday aboard the Wine Trader, a San Marino-flagged chemical tanker travelling from Tunisia to Romania. The ship caught fire 24km southeast of the port town of Sulina in Romanian waters. Twelve people were aboard when the fire started, with four rescued by Romanian authorities who launched search-and-rescue operations. The cause of the fire is not yet clear.

The incident comes as the Black Sea has seen a recent increase in drone strikes on vessels. A drone briefly entered Romanian airspace at 1.34am southeast of Sulina before disappearing from radar, according to Romania's defence ministry. A 'group of air targets' was also monitored overnight near Ukraine's Snake Island. Romania's Acting Defence Minister Radu Miruta said an investigation was under way, though no drone was seen on military radars heading towards the tanker.

Similar drone incursions have occurred in October in the exclusive economic zones of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO and EU members. On Tuesday, drone strikes on two ships off Bulgaria prompted rescue operations. Eleven crew members from the HS Dignity remain missing, while all 15 crew members from the Chelsea 3 were evacuated, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries.

How it is being reported

• Sailors missing after fire as Black Sea attacks riseRescuers are searching for eight missing crew from a burning chemical tanker in Romanian waters, amid fears that Russia's war with Ukraine is spreading.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 11:04
• Sailors missing after fire as Black Sea attacks riseRescuers are searching for eight missing crew from a burning chemical tanker in Romanian waters, amid fears that Russia's war with Ukraine is spreading.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 11:04

In this story: Romania · Ukraine · Russia · Bulgaria · Radu Miruta · Wine Trader · HS Dignity · Chelsea 3

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