In brief
A container ship hit by three maritime drones sank east of Cape Kaliakra, carrying lithium‑ion batteries, with all crew rescued. Bulgarian authorities have begun seawater sampling to detect pollution and plan further tests around the site and nearby coastal points.
A container vessel was struck by three maritime drones east of Cape Kaliakra on Wednesday, and the ship sank around midnight, reports the Varna Regional Administration confirmed through Traffic Control and the Maritime Administration Executive Agency. Kyiv – Bulgaria's Department of Border and Coast Guard – issued the statement on Friday. The vessel, whose cargo included lithium‑ion batteries, was located about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla when the attack occurred.
All 18 crew members were rescued by Bulgarian forces and brought to Varna. The rescue operation was carried out under the supervision of the Defence Ministry and the coast guard, according to the agency’s briefing.
Defence Ministry teams were the first to collect seawater samples from two sites within Bulgarian territorial waters. The preliminary visual inspection found no visible signs of pollution, the ministry’s deputy said in a brief statement. “The samples will be tested for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and other physicochemical indicators of water quality,” the official added.
With the incident marking the fifth drone attack in the country’s exclusive economic zone since early October, the Bulgarian Environment and Water Ministry is expanding the investigation. The ministry announced that, on Thursday, teams from the Black Sea Basin Directorate and the Executive Environment Agency would collect seawater samples at five coastal locations: Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol.
Upcoming Seawater Sampling
These samples will be analysed at the Executive Environment Agency’s regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas. The testing will also cover the area directly surrounding the container ship, the ministry noted. “The goal is to establish not only whether pollution is present but also whether there have been changes in seawater quality that cannot be detected through visual inspection alone,” an agency spokesperson said.
Environmental observers say the comprehensive testing approach is standard after maritime incidents involving hazardous cargo. The agency’s director stressed that results from the analyses will be made public once they are finalized, a move that aims to maintain transparency with the public and the shipping community.
Analysts point out that lithium‑ion batteries can release hazardous chemicals if the cells are breached and exposed to seawater. While no leaks have been detected so far, scientists urged patience for the final analyses. The Ministry’s plan to sample nearby coastal points is designed to capture any potential diffusion of pollutants beyond the immediate wreck site.
Marine traffic officials added that the incident underscores ongoing threats posed by maritime drones. “This is a serious situation that requires immediate attention, not only for the safety of the crew but also for protecting our marine environment,” the port authority said.
As the region awaits the final laboratory results, the Bulgarian maritime community remains on alert, with port authorities encouraging shipping companies to increase vigilance while drone technology continues to expand its reach in international waters.
