The San Marino-flagged chemical tanker WINE TRADER caught fire on the morning of October 15, 2026, approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina in the Black Sea, according to reports citing the Romanian Naval Authority.
Five of the vessel's 12 crew members had been rescued, while seven remained missing. Initial medical assessments indicated that one survivor suffered scalp burns and another experienced mild smoke inhalation. Search-and-rescue operations continued in rough seas.
Speaking in Brussels, Romanian President Nicusor Dan said the vessel had been struck by a drone. He also referred to another ship struck in a separate incident the previous night. Dan did not identify the drones’ origin in those remarks.
Similar drone incursions had been reported that month in the exclusive economic zones of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO and European Union members.