Drones strike LPG tanker bound for Ukraine in Romanian EEZ
A liquefied petroleum gas tanker en route to Ukraine was struck by drones inside Romania’s exclusive economic zone, underscoring the elevated risks and insurance costs for commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
A Liberian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker caught fire after being struck by three drones while sailing through Romania’s exclusive economic zone. The vessel was traveling from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian Danube port of Reni when the attack occurred approximately 20 nautical miles southeast of Sfântu Gheorghe during the night of July 20-21.
The incident injured three of the 17 crew members, who were subsequently rescued. Quartermaster Aleksandre Megrelidze told Europa FM that the vessel was hit on the upper deck, the cabins, and the starboard side in rapid succession.
The strike occurred outside Romania's territorial waters but well within its exclusive economic zone, a boundary that dictates maritime commercial rights rather than sovereign territory. For NATO members, an attack on commercial shipping inside an EEZ represents a significant escalation that complicates the alliance's defensive posture. Romanian President Nicușor Dan attributed the incident to "the illegal war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine."
The targeted vessel was an LPG carrier, a specialized asset transporting compressed gas that requires strict safety protocols. For energy markets and shipping executives, the deliberate striking of a gas tanker reinforces the persistent hazard of routing vessels to Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Insurers have already priced steep war-risk premiums into Black Sea voyages, and attacks on specialized energy vessels signal a broadening of the risk profile across maritime supply chains.
The destination, Reni, is a critical Ukrainian port on the Danube River that has become a major alternative export hub since Russia blockaded deeper Black Sea ports. Sustaining these Danube routes is vital for Ukraine's economy, but Saturday's attack demonstrates that proximity to NATO coastlines does not guarantee safe passage for commercial freight.
The Romanian Naval Authority is coordinating the response through its Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Constanța. The crew, comprising Filipino, Turkish, Georgian and Indian nationals, was evacuated, though three required medical treatment for burns and shrapnel wounds. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has placed naval vessels and a helicopter on standby, while authorities maintain the vessel's cargo remains stable and poses no threat to coastal residents or tourism.
