Thirteen Azerbaijani citizens were aboard the tanker Ali Najafov when it was struck by a drone off Romania’s Black Sea coast. No crew members were injured, and the sailors were awaiting evacuation.
The incident occurred during the night of Nov. 15 near the port of Sulina, according to a Vesti Baku report. Fourteen people were aboard the vessel: 13 Azerbaijani citizens and one Turkish citizen.
APA and the Public Association for the Support of Azerbaijani Sailors said the Ali Najafov belongs to the Palmali shipping company. A fire broke out on the tanker after the strike.
Crew Prevents Fire From Spreading
The sailors extinguished the flames and prevented the fire from reaching the cargo tanks. The action reportedly kept the diesel fuel being transported from catching fire.
Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed that the Ali Najafov was one of three commercial vessels struck by drones near the mouth of the Danube. Romanian authorities said no one was killed or injured in the series of attacks.
The drone’s origin had not been officially established. Romanian authorities continued investigating the incident and increased aerial surveillance in the Black Sea area.
The Sulina Canal links the Danube River to the Black Sea and is used, among other purposes, to transport Ukrainian cargo. Several attacks on merchant vessels have occurred off Romania and Bulgaria in recent weeks.