Black Sea Drone Attacks Force 19 ED Shipping Vessels Out of Service

A sharp increase in drone attacks on commercial vessels has forced Turkish shipping firm ED Shipping to lay up 19 of its 26 ships. Chief Financial Officer Demre İşcen stated the company is losing millions of dollars each month as the Black Sea corridor becomes increasingly dangerous for trade.

The halt in traffic follows a surge in maritime violence that has killed or left missing at least 31 seafarers this year. Maritime risk firm Ambrey recorded more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov over the past twelve months. The firm attributed 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia, a claim the Russian Ministry of Defence partially supported by acknowledging dozens of strikes.

Recent incidents have concentrated in the western Black Sea, including waters off Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, a Comoros-flagged ship was struck just outside Romanian territorial waters. One crew member has been recovered and three remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the incident. NATO has responded by deploying additional patrol boats and radar systems to bolster security in the region.

The human cost has driven the operational pause. On October 13, a sea drone struck the HS Dignity, a cargo ship en route from Algeria to Romania. Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh said the 16 crew members were ordered to abandon the sinking vessel. A second drone rammed the ship while they attempted to launch lifeboats. Five survivors were rescued, but 11 crew members, including 18-year-old Hamza Suleiman, are listed as missing.

Suleiman's father, Basel, said his son had expressed fear after another vessel, the Alfa Watan, was hit on October 6. Ten crew members from that ship, mostly Syrian, have not been recovered. Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., confirmed at least 18 Syrian seafarers have been killed. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea.

ED Shipping's decision comes as its vessel Circon was previously hit in the Sea of Azov on June 5, killing two crew members. Ukraine stated the targeted ships carried stolen grain and military cargo, a claim İşcen disputes by noting the ship was loading Russian grain. The surviving crew of the HS Dignity are currently waiting in Bulgaria for documentation to return home.

Mamdouh said he will not return to the Black Sea. The company's fleet remains idle as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to expand into critical shipping lanes.