Abandoned Cargo Ship Hit By A Drone Drifts 40 Nautical Miles Off Bulgaria With No Crew

A cargo ship hit by a Russian drone near Odesa, Ukraine, in August is drifting through the Black Sea towards Bulgaria.

The ship has no crew on board and cannot move under its own power. Bulgarian Air Force and Navy personnel located it on October 4 and are tracking its movement.

The ship, named Emil, was found about 40 nautical miles east of Cape Shabla, off northeastern Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry said the vessel was unable to manoeuvre after the drone strike caused a fire and damaged its technical systems.

The ship has been drifting in Romania’s exclusive economic zone since the attack on August 5. Sea currents have been carrying it south towards Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.

On October 4, two Bulgarian Air Force Cougar helicopters and Navy specialists took part in an operation to find the vessel and check its condition. The operation ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

The Bulgarian Navy has issued a warning to ships in the area about the abandoned vessel. The Defence Ministry said authorities were keeping track of its movement and were ready to act if the situation changed.

The Emil is a German-owned bulk carrier built in 2012. It is 292 metres long and has a deadweight tonnage of 175,463 tonnes. The ship is registered under the Liberian flag.

The vessel was struck by a Russian drone on August 5, about 21 nautical miles from the Greater Odesa area. The attack caused a fire and damaged its technical systems, leaving the ship unable to manoeuvre. The crew had to abandon it.

Reports said the ship was struck again by Russia, but it remained afloat. Photographs showed damage to the stern and accommodation block. The bridge also appeared to have been burnt out.

Since the attack, the ship has drifted in a southwesterly direction, carried by sea currents and winds. Its latest reported position was about 40 nautical miles east of Cape Shabla, near the Bulgarian-Romanian border.

There is no confirmed information about a salvage operation for the Emil. Bulgarian authorities said they would continue to monitor the vessel and take action if necessary.

On October 3, Russian forces attacked another Liberian-flagged civilian cargo ship at a port in Ukraine’s Odesa region. One crew member was killed, and three others were injured, Ukrinform reported.

Bulgaria has dealt with other damaged ships linked to the war. In December, the Kairos, a tanker attacked by Ukraine off Turkey after entering the Black Sea, drifted towards the Bulgarian coast.

A tug reportedly moved the damaged vessel away from Turkish waters before releasing it. The ship then drifted towards Bulgaria.

Bulgaria helped the tanker’s crew and moved the vessel to a sheltered anchorage. The country later said the ship’s owners had repaid its costs and that the vessel had been sold.

Turkey has also dealt with damaged ships drifting towards its coast. Two smaller cargo ships were reported on the Turkish coastline after Ukraine began attacking Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov during the summer.

References: ukrinform, sofiaglobe