Black Sea Attacks Force Shipping Standstill

The HS Dignity began sinking in the Black Sea at 1:30 a.m. on October 13 after a sea drone struck its hull.

The vessel, which had departed Algeria and was bound for Romania to load grain, carried 16 crew members of Syrian and Egyptian nationality. Chief Officer Ashraf Mamdouh, 42, said the crew abandoned ship in heavy swells. A second drone rammed the vessel while the crew attempted to launch lifeboats, leaving only five survivors. Eleven crew members remain missing, including 18-year-old Hamza Suleiman, who was on his first voyage. Suleiman's father, Basel, said he last spoke to his son on the night of October 12 when the ship was off the Bulgarian coast.

Maritime analysts estimate that nearly 50 commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea this month. Data from the risk firm Ambrey indicates more than 500 attacks occurred in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov in 2026. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defence acknowledged striking dozens of ships, stating the targets supported Ukraine's military. At least 31 seafarers have been killed or are missing since the start of the year. Many recent strikes occurred in the western Black Sea, off the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for an October 17 attack on a Comoros-flagged ship just outside Romanian territorial waters. One body has been recovered from that incident, and three of the 13 crew members remain missing.

NATO has deployed additional patrol boats and radar systems to enhance maritime security. Shipping companies are adjusting operations in response to the rising threat. Demre İşcen, chief financial officer of the Turkey-based ED Shipping, stated the company has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels. İşcen said the company is losing millions of dollars each month while ships remain idle. The company's vessel Circon was hit in the Sea of Azov on June 5, killing two crew members. Ukraine claimed the ship carried stolen Ukrainian grain, military cargo, and fuel. İşcen disputed that account, noting the ship was heading to load Russian grain.

The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea. Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. Survivors of the HS Dignity are currently in Bulgaria waiting for new documents to return home. Mamdouh said he will not return to the Black Sea.

The Alfa Watan was struck by drones on October 6, leaving ten crew members, mostly Syrian, unaccounted for. This incident contributed to the fear among sailors regarding the safety of the route. Mamdouh described strong winds and currents that pulled swimmers apart during the sinking of the Dignity. He waited four hours in a life raft before being rescued by the vessel Azov Concord.