Israeli-Linked Ship Sinks in Black Sea After Drone Attack

Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 8 newsrooms covering

A container ship, the CONTSHIP JET, operating for Israeli company ZIM, sank in the Black Sea after being hit by three naval drones off Bulgaria. All 18 crew members were rescued. The ship, carrying hazardous materials, departed from Haifa and was headed to Romania. The attack occurred during a meeting of NATO defense ministers discussing Black Sea security.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

A ZIM-linked ship, the CONTSHIP JET, sank in the Black Sea after a drone attack off Bulgaria.
All 18 crew members were safely rescued by the Bulgarian Navy.
The vessel was carrying 421 containers, including hazardous materials like lithium batteries.
The attack happened near Bulgaria's coast, within its exclusive economic zone.
The incident occurred as NATO defense ministers met to discuss Black Sea maritime security.

Israeli-Linked Ship Sinks in Black Sea After Drone Attack — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A container ship operating for the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which departed from Haifa port en route to Romania, was struck by three naval drones off the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea on Wednesday. The vessel, the CONTSHIP JET, sustained severe damage and sank overnight. All 18 crew members were safely rescued by the Bulgarian Navy. Bulgarian authorities confirmed the ship's sinking on Thursday.

The ship, flying a Liberian flag and managed by Greek company Contships Management, was part of ZIM's Levant-Black Sea Express route, connecting Israeli ports with those in the Black Sea region. It had also visited Ashdod port before leaving Haifa for Constanța, Romania.

According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, the attack occurred around 12:00 PM local time, approximately 17 nautical miles east of Cape Kaliakra, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The three naval drones caused significant damage, a fire, and a severe list, which was recorded by Bulgarian Navy surveillance systems and a French maritime patrol aircraft.

Following the attack, the Bulgarian Navy dispatched three rescue vessels. The crew, including 14 Filipino and four Ukrainian nationals, were safely rescued and taken to Varna for medical checks. Reports from Greece suggest a patrol aircraft alerted the captain to the approaching drones, but despite evasive maneuvers, the ship was hit.

The ship was carrying 421 containers, including lithium batteries, flammable materials, and other hazardous substances. Some containers fell into the sea. Initial checks found no signs of pollution, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation for environmental risks.

The attack took place as the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey, all NATO members, were meeting in Sofia to discuss maritime security in the Black Sea. They condemned attacks on commercial vessels and warned of dangerous escalation. This incident is one of several attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea in recent weeks, with previous attacks resulting in casualties. Ukraine has accused Russia of responsibility, a claim Moscow denies.