In brief
The Contship Jet was struck by three drones about 21 nm southeast of Shabla, leading to its rapid sinking. All 18 crew were rescued and taken to Varna. Bulgarian authorities have begun extensive seawater sampling to check for contamination from the ship’s cargo of lithium‑ion batteries. The incident is the fifth drone attack in the country’s exclusive economic zone since October.
The Liberian‑flagged container ship Contship Jet hit by three maritime drones sank east of Cape Kaliakra at about midnight on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the Varna Regional Administration confirmed. 18 crew members were rescued by Bulgarian authorities and brought to Varna for safety.
According to the Traffic Control and the Maritime Administration Executive Agency, the vessel was hit approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla. Defence Ministry teams first collected seawater samples from two spots in Bulgarian territorial waters, finding no visible signs of pollution. The ship carried lithium‑ion batteries among its cargo, raising concerns about potential hazardous leaks.
“The results will be made public,” the Environment and Water Ministry added. On the following Thursday, teams from the Black Sea Basin Directorate and the Executive Environment Agency are scheduled to gather seawater samples at five coastal locations—Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol. The samples will be tested for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and a range of physicochemical indicators of water quality.
Both the Executive Environment Agency’s regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas will conduct the analyses. Sampling will also continue in the immediate area around where the ship sank, with the aim of identifying any changes in seawater quality that cannot be detected through visual inspection alone.
The incident marks the fifth drone attack on maritime vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone since the beginning of October. Investigations remain ongoing, with the Ministry of the Interior and the Defence Ministry monitoring the situation. No source has yet identified the operators or the exact motive behind the drone strikes.
Naval officers noted that the ship’s trajectory was south‑westerly towards the Bulgarian coast, but the drone strike disrupted its navigation system before it could alter course. The incident has prompted the Bulgarian government to review its coastal security protocols and to consider additional measures to protect shipping lanes from unmanned aircraft attacks.
Environmental experts emphasize that lithium‑ion batteries can release toxic substances if ruptured, and that containment of potential spills is critical for marine ecosystems. While initial sampling found no visible contamination, detailed laboratory tests are expected to provide a clearer picture of the incident’s environmental impact.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications expressed support for the ongoing monitoring plan and assured maritime stakeholders that the Bulgarian authorities were taking all necessary steps to safeguard the Black Sea’s waters.
The “Contship Jet” was sailing under Liberian colours when the attack occurred at approximately 1 p.m. local time on the same day; the ship’s distress call was received by Varna Regional Administration, which coordinated the rescue operation.
Analysts point to the growing trend of drone‑based maritime attacks in the Black Sea region, noting that the 2026 incident aligns with a pattern of increasing use of low‑cost unmanned systems to target commercial vessels. They urge continuing surveillance and international cooperation to deter future attacks.
Pending outcomes of the depth‑testing will inform whether contaminated water exists in the vicinity of the sinking and the best remediation strategies for the Bulgarian coastal waters. Officials remain prepared to act if further evidence of pollution emerges in the forthcoming data.
