In brief
Three maritime drones hit the container ship CONTSHIP JET near Cape Kaliakra on 28 October, causing it to sink around midnight. Bulgarian authorities have inspected the wreck, assessed the cargo, and are conducting comprehensive seawater sampling to detect any pollution. The incident marks the fifth drone attack in the country’s exclusive economic zone this year, raising questions about maritime security and environmental risks.
On Wednesday, 28 October, the container ship CONTSHIP JET was struck by three maritime drones approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, east of Cape Kaliakra, and sank around midnight in the Black Sea. All 18 crew members—14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians—were rescued by Bulgarian authorities and transported to Varna. The vessel was carrying 421 containers, some of which held gas oil and lithium‑ion batteries, and twenty containers fell overboard during the collision.
The Swedish‑owned ship was inspected by teams from the Maritime Administration Executive Agency. The experts reported that there were no significant adverse effects on the marine environment at the stage of assessment. They noted that the gas oil cargo would evaporate quickly and was not expected to reach the Bulgarian coast. The ship’s condition and cargo profile were communicated to Regional Governor Mario Smarkov, who was assured that no immediate marine or coastal damage was anticipated.
Inspection and Immediate Assessment
The Maritime Administration’s inspection concluded that the vessel’s structural integrity had been compromised by the drone strikes, leading to the rapid sinking. Protocols for debris recovery were activated, and the wreck’s location was logged for further monitoring. No signs of chemical leakage were observed during the initial examination.
During a televised interview with bTV, Bulgaria’s outgoing Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov explained that the drones came from the east and did not enter Bulgarian territorial waters. He emphasized the country’s enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and early‑warning efforts, and noted that new anti‑drone capabilities were being deployed. Admiral Eftimov said:
We are not at war. The drones did not enter territorial waters, so we did not take action.
He added that Bulgaria had no authority to act outside its territorial waters, and that the military was working to gain broader operational powers.
Environmental Response and Seawater Sampling
Following the sinking, the Varna Regional Administration and the Traffic Control confirmed the incident, and the Defence Ministry collected seawater samples from two locations in Bulgarian territorial waters, reporting no visible signs of pollution. The Environment and Water 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—to test for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals, and other physicochemical indicators of water quality.
The samples will be analysed at the Executive Environment Agency’s regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas, and additional sampling is planned around the wreck’s area. The goal is to determine whether pollution is present and to identify any changes in seawater quality that could not be detected through visual inspection alone. The Environment and Water Ministry said the results would be made public once analysis is complete.
While the Maritime Administration’s preliminary assessment suggested no significant marine impact, the broader monitoring effort reflects the ongoing concern over potential hazardous cargo—such as lithium‑ion batteries and oil containers—that could pose longer‑term risks if not fully contained. The incident marks the fifth drone attack on a merchant vessel in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone since the start of October, underscoring an emerging pattern of maritime security threats in the Black Sea region.
Open questions remain about the exact origin of the drones, the long‑term environmental effects of potential oil and battery leakage, and the adequacy of current anti‑drone countermeasures. Bulgarian authorities are maintaining constant coordination with national and international partners, and are prepared to act if pollution risks or changes in the situation are detected.
