Panama-Flagged Ship Hit By Drone In Black Sea, One Dead And 2 Injured

A drone attack in the Black Sea has killed one crew member and injured at least two others on a Panama-flagged merchant vessel, according to the Panama Maritime Authority.

The incident took place on Thursday. The authority said the ship was still able to continue its journey after the attack. One of the injured sailors is in serious condition.

The Panama Maritime Authority did not say who was responsible for the strike. It said it has activated procedures to collect information and is in contact with those involved.

It also advised ships to avoid travelling through Ukrainian and Russian waters in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba said Russian drones struck two foreign-flagged vessels on Friday, causing the death of one seafarer aboard a Panama-flagged ship and injuring five others in total.

He said one injured sailor is in critical condition. A second ship, sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was also hit, leaving three crew members with minor injuries. The nationalities of the crews were not given.

Kuleba said the attacks show ongoing risks to civilian shipping in the Black Sea, where merchant vessels have repeatedly been hit by drones, missiles and mines since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In January, Russian drones hit a tanker carrying vegetable oil and another ship carrying corn.

In April, a Liberia-flagged grain ship caught fire after being struck by a drone. In May, the Vanuatu-flagged cargo ship ANT was hit while sailing from Ukraine’s Odesa region to Turkey, injuring two crew members.

On June 6, Russia also struck two small rescue boats on a humanitarian mission run by Ukraine’s maritime search and rescue service.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, saying it is important for safe navigation in the Black Sea.

Panama runs the world’s largest ship registry, with about 16% of global merchant ships sailing under its flag.

The Panama Maritime Authority said it is still gathering information about the attack and remains in contact with relevant parties.

Investigations are ongoing, and no official attribution has been confirmed. Shipping advisories continue to warn vessels to avoid high-risk areas in the region.

References: thehindu, Reuters