Drones Strike Three Ships Off Romania: What It Means for Shipping
Three ships were hit by drones off Romania's coast in two days, with no casualties, Romanian authorities confirmed. The drones' origin is unknown.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn
CONSTANTA, Romania — Three commercial vessels were struck by drones near Romania's Black Sea coast on November 13 and 14, Romania's Defence Ministry confirmed, in the sharpest escalation yet of attacks on civilian shipping near NATO waters. No crew were reported injured, and officials said the origin of the drones had not been established.
The first vessel hit was the Palau-flagged cargo ship Larissa 1, heading for Ukraine when a drone struck its crane 12 kilometres off the coast on Friday evening. The ministry said the strike was reported at 21:40 local time. Its crane was damaged, but no fire broke out and no one was hurt.
Key Takeaways
- Three commercial ships hit by drones off Romania's coast on November 13 and 14; no casualties reported.
- Palau-flagged Larissa 1, bound for Ukraine, took a drone hit to its crane 12 kilometres off the coast.
- Romanian F-16 jets scrambled twice; RO-Alert warnings sent to Tulcea County on both nights.
- Origin of the drones not established; investigation under way.
What Happened to the Three Ships Hit Off Romania's Coast
Two more commercial vessels were struck by drones on Saturday evening, Romania's Defence Ministry confirmed, according to Romanian news agency News.ro. Fires broke out aboard both. One was struck at about 21:10 local time, four nautical miles east-southeast of Sulina.
Speaking at the military port of Constanta on November 14, Defence Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea confirmed the authorities had been notified and an investigation was under way. He said the military was coordinating with the Navy, the Interior Ministry and the Coast Guard.
Why Romanian F-16 Jets Were Scrambled Over the Black Sea
On Friday evening, radar tracked a target southeast of Snake Island in Ukrainian airspace, and two F-16 jets took off from Fetesti. An RO-Alert went to northern Tulcea County at 21:53 and ended at 22:58. On Saturday morning, radar detected another target near the island and two F-16s took off again, with RO-Alerts at 04:45 and 05:39.
It was the third alert episode in a week. On November 8, Spanish F-18 jets scrambled after radar tracked two targets near the island, and on November 11 a target east of the island prompted F-16 jets to launch from Campia Turzii. The ministry did not report any entry into Romanian airspace or recovered debris.
What the Black Sea Drone Strikes Mean for NATO and Shipping
Romania is a NATO member, and Snake Island lies near the Danube delta, close to Romania's maritime border. The strikes put the war's risks against a NATO ally's coastline, though the drones were not reported to have entered Romanian airspace.
The G7 foreign ministers condemned the campaign of strikes against civilian shipping in the Black Sea in a joint declaration after their Paris meeting on November 9 and 10, warning of significant consequences for global food security. They also reaffirmed support for US-led efforts to reach a ceasefire.
Those negotiations are continuing. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and said the trilateral peace process on Ukraine has restarted, with a new round set. Attacks on shipping have spread beyond the Black Sea: four oil tankers were hit by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz, and Britain has charged three men over an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting RAF Fairford.
| Date | Incident | Response |
|---|---|---|
| November 13 evening | Larissa 1 struck by drone | F-16s scrambled; RO-Alert 21:53 |
| November 14 morning | Target near Snake Island | Two F-16s; RO-Alerts 04:45, 05:39 |
| November 14 evening | Two more vessels struck | Fires aboard both; origin unknown |
The central question remains unanswered: Romanian authorities have not identified the origin of the drones. The ministry said it would report further findings as the investigation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ships were hit by drones off Romania's coast?
Three commercial vessels were struck on November 13 and 14, Romanian authorities confirmed. The first was the Palau-flagged Larissa 1, hit on Friday evening; two more were struck on Saturday evening, and both caught fire.
Did the drones enter Romanian airspace?
Romania's Defence Ministry has not reported any entry into Romanian airspace. Its statements said radar detected targets near Snake Island, in or near Ukrainian airspace, and reported no recovered debris. The strikes took place in or near Romanian territorial waters.
Who is behind the drone strikes on Black Sea shipping?
The origin of the drones has not been established, and Romanian authorities have attributed the strikes to no actor. Defence Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea said an investigation was under way.
