An LPG tanker sailing from Egypt to Ukraine has been hit off Romania’s coast in an attack likely linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Romanian president Nicușor Dan said on Tuesday.

The attack occurred on Monday night into Tuesday, July 20 to 21 approximately 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast, resulting in three injured crew members who were subsequently evacuated by Romanian rescuers.

A tugboat was dispatched to the scene to secure the vessel and prevent it from drifting, with Romanian authorities investigating the “serious incident.”

The vessel was traveling from the port of Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian port of Reni, the Romanian president Dan wrote on X.

Tanker hit outside Romanian waters, crew evacuated

Two vessels of the Romanian Agency for Rescuing the Human Life at Sea evacuated the entire 17-crew, including three injured, and brought them safely ashore.

“State institutions are on alert and will clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities related to this serious incident, most likely part of the illegal war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” Dan said.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Constanța received the distress alert at 00:05 on July 21, when the tanker was about 14 nautical miles from Sfântu Gheorghe.

The ship sent a distress signal following a fire onboard and two ships of the Romanian Agency for Rescuing the Human Life at Sea, according to the Romanian Naval Authority, were dispatched to the scene.

SAR Apollo recovered all 17 seafarers from liferafts. Three injured were transferred to Sulina, where they were taken over by a medical team.

The cause of the incident and responsibility for it had not been established. 

Two Filipino seafarers killed from attacks in Black Sea, says DMW

Nine vessels carrying 139 Filipino seafarers had been attacked by drones while en route or at ports in Ukraine and Russia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported in a press conference on July 20.

DMW secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said 124 Filipino seafarers had been confirmed safe and unharmed. The attacks resulted in two fatalities and 12 injuries, with one seafarer still missing. The affected vessels were primarily bulk carriers and oil or product tankers. Most reportedly sustained damage from unmanned aerial vehicle attacks while alongside, at anchor, or shortly after departure.

“We shall continue, per the President’s directive, to closely monitor developments in the area and consider adopting additional protective measures to safeguard Filipino seafarers deployed on vessels within the Black Sea,” Cacdac said during the press conference at the DMW central office.

The DMW said it is providing medical treatment, psychological support, evacuation, repatriation, and other immediate assistance to affected Filipino seafarers. Four of the injured seafarers have already been repatriated.

The Department said efforts are continuing to recover and repatriate the deceased crew members, locate the missing seafarer, and arrange the repatriation of other affected seafarers when conditions permit.

The agency has renewed its call for shipowners and licensed manning agencies to reroute vessels away from high-risk and warlike areas, including waters of the Black Sea, to protect Filipino seafarers.

The DMW chief called for Filipino seafarers who refuse to sail to high-risk areas not to be discriminated against in future employment. They must also receive proper compensation and free repatriation to the Philippines.