570 Ships Hit & 40 Seafarers Killed As Black Sea Becomes Deadliest Waterway Surpassing Hormuz & Persian Gulf

Attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea have risen considerably in the last two months, making the waterway the most dangerous to navigate, leaving behind the Persian Gulf and even the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.S-Iran war is ongoing.

According to maritime security firm Ambrey and the International Maritime Organization, attacks on ships in the Black Sea are 6 times higher than those recorded in the Persian Gulf, where 24 seafarer deaths have been confirmed.

Between July and September, at least 387 ships were attacked, five times more than those attacked in the previous quarter, with Russia responsible for 90% of these incidents in the last one and a half months. Around 570 ships have been targeted in the Black Sea since the conflict began.

The Ukraine-Russia war, which started with the Russian Invasion in 2022, has spilled beyond the region and is affecting neighbouring countries like Romania, Bulgaria and even Turkiye.

Ships of the latter have often been attacked in the Black Sea, with Istanbul repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire and the use of diplomacy and dialogue.

The fighting has disrupted port operations at Ukraine’s Greater Odesa facilities, where just 10 ships crossed in September, compared to around 400 in July.

The increased attacks have also skyrocketed shipping war insurance, which has reached 15% of a ship’s hull value, almost double the rate for vessels sailing in the Persian Gulf.

This has prompted several operators to temporarily close services in the region’s waters, while a few are using 50-year-old vessels for the same to reduce risks.

On October 23, an oil tanker was hit by a drone close to the Romanian coast, killing a seafarer while three others went missing. A week before, two chemical tankers were struck off Romania.

At least 40 seafarers have been killed in Black Sea ship attacks, and 24 reported deaths have been confirmed in the Strait of Hormuz.

Experts say that reporting in both regions has been patchy, so the figures could be higher than these. Ukraine has claimed to have struck over 300 Russian ships in 11 weeks; however, its attacks have slowed since then.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a deal with Russia regarding the purchase of its diesel to reduce fuel prices in America ahead of the mid-term elections in November. The Ukrainian Government expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision, calling it a weak move and something Moscow would use to target Kyiv even more.

Trump also announced on social media regarding an energy ceasefire between the two countries; however, after this news, Russia and Ukraine have continued attacking each other’s assets.

The latest attacks have reached NATO territories, and the alliance recently informed everyone of its decision to send additional aircraft, radar systems, drones, and patrol vessels to uphold the maritime security of its member states.

The Supreme Council for National Defense of Romania said that the threats to navigation have increased manifold and that the government is building its surveillance, counter-drone, and mine-countermeasures strategies.