In brief
The container ship *CONTSHIP JET* was hit by maritime drones east of Cape Kaliakra, sank at midnight, and all 18 crew were rescued. Bulgarian authorities are sampling seawater for pollutants, and the Sofia Military District Prosecution Office has opened a pre‑trial investigation into the incident.
A Liberian‑flagged container ship, the *CONTSHIP JET*, was struck by three maritime drones on Wednesday, about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, and sank around midnight. The Varna Regional Administration reported the incident Thursday, confirming the vessel’s loss.
All 18 crew members—14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians—were rescued and brought to Varna by authorities, who coordinated the emergency response with the Regional Military Police Service.
The vessel was carrying 421 containers of various hazardous cargo, including light fuel oil and lithium‑ion batteries. Twenty containers were reported to have fallen overboard during the attack, according to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov.
Maritime Administration teams inspected the sunken ship and stated that the gas oil it carried would evaporate quickly and is not expected to reach the Bulgarian coast. According to the agency, no significant adverse effects on the marine environment or coastline were anticipated at this stage.
Environmental authorities have begun an extensive seawater sampling programme. On Thursday, teams from the Black Sea Basin Directorate and the Executive Environment Agency will collect samples at five coastal locations near Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol.
Samples will be analysed for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and other physicochemical indicators. The Ministry of Environment and Water said the tests would be carried out at the Executive Environment Agency’s regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas, and that the results would be published.
Admiral Emil Eftimov, Bulgaria’s outgoing Chief of Defence, said in an interview for bTV that the drones came from the east and did not enter Bulgarian territorial waters. He highlighted the country’s increasing intelligence, surveillance and early‑warning capabilities.
“We are not at war. The drones did not enter territorial waters, so we did not take action. We have the opportunity to act, and we are part of an alliance where we can share capabilities with our partners,”Admiral Eftimov said.
He added that severe weather had limited unmanned aerial vehicle operations and that new anti‑drone systems are being deployed as part of a broader effort to amend defence legislation.
In parallel, the Sofia Military District Prosecution Office has opened a pre‑trial investigation into what it calls a prohibited use of maritime drones against a neutral‑flagged vessel. The investigation concerns alleged violations of the Penal Code and international law governing warfare, the prosecution office said.
The investigation will seek details about the vessel’s ownership, cargo, crew composition, route and the extent of damage, and has been assigned to a military investigator from the Sofia Military District.
There are open questions about the origin of the drones, the legal status of the attack, and the potential long‑term environmental impact of the ship’s hazardous cargo. Bulgarian authorities have said they will maintain constant monitoring and coordination with relevant state bodies throughout the investigation and sampling efforts.
As the Black Sea remains a focal point for regional security tensions, the incident highlights the need for clear rules of engagement and robust monitoring of maritime threats in the area. The ongoing investigations and environmental assessments will provide further insight into the ramifications of the attack.
