31 Seafarers Lost as Black Sea Drone Campaign Halts Grain Trade

At least 31 seafarers are dead or missing in the Black Sea following a surge of drone attacks that have brought regional shipping traffic to a near standstill. The violence has escalated sharply in October, with maritime risk firm Ambrey identifying 45 recorded attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov during the month. The firm attributes 40 of these strikes to Russia. Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed hitting dozens of ships, stating that the targets supported Ukraine's military operations.

The crisis began building in early October when the Alfa Watan was struck by drones on Oct. 6. Ten crew members from that vessel, primarily Syrian nationals, have not been recovered. By mid-month, the threat had expanded to include the western Black Sea, near the coastlines of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Oct. 13, a sea drone hit the hull of the HS Dignity, a 123-metre cargo ship sailing from Algeria to Romania to load grain. The captain ordered the 16-person crew, consisting of Syrian and Egyptian nationals, to abandon ship just after 1:30 a.m.

The HS Dignity incident illustrated the dangers of the current maritime environment. Chief Officer Ashraf Mamdouh said the crew saw a fast-moving boat approach in the darkness, assuming it was a rescue vessel. They soon realized it was unmanned and part of the attacking group. Mamdouh stated, "We realized that this boat was also part of the group that was attacking us. Of course, we all ran." A second drone rammed the ship, leaving the crew with insufficient time to launch all lifeboats.

Mamdouh, 42, was among the five survivors of the HS Dignity attack. He spent four hours in a drifting life raft until the Azov Concord arrived to rescue him. Eleven crew members remain missing, including 18-year-old Syrian sailor Hamza Suleiman, who was on his first voyage. Suleiman's father, Basel, said his son had expressed fear after the Alfa Watan was hit in early October but stayed aboard because arranging a transfer was difficult. Basel noted that his son called him on the night of Oct. 12, saying, "Dad, we're in Bulgaria now."

The impact on global trade is immediate. Turkey-based ED Shipping has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels, according to Chief Financial Officer Demre İşcen. The company is losing millions of dollars each month due to the halt in operations. İşcen said the firm's ship Circon was hit in June in the Sea of Azov, killing two crew members. Ukraine acknowledged that attack, claiming the targeted vessels carried stolen Ukrainian grain and military cargo. İşcen disputes this, noting the ship was heading to load Russian grain.

NATO has responded to the escalation by deploying additional patrol boats and radar systems to enhance maritime security in the region. A search-and-rescue operation was ongoing on Friday for a Comoros-flagged ship hit by drones just outside Romanian territorial waters. One of its 13 crew members, including Ukrainian and Azerbaijani sailors, has been recovered, while three remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the strike.

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., has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. He said, "Nobody is forced to take these jobs, but in other ways you are forced. If you want to work, you have to go." Mamdouh and his surviving crewmates are currently waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to return home. He said, "I will not go back to the Black Sea again. Never."