ED Shipping Idles 19 Vessels as Drone Attacks Spike Black Sea Traffic

The Black Sea has become a high-risk zone for commercial shipping, with maritime analysts reporting that nearly 50 vessels were attacked in the past month. The surge in drone strikes has forced major carriers to pull ships from the corridor, disrupting trade routes that connect Europe to the Middle East and beyond.

Turkey-based ED Shipping has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels, according to chief financial officer Demre İşcen. İşcen stated the company is losing millions of dollars each month while its fleet remains idle. One of their ships, the Circon, was hit in the Sea of Azov on June 5, killing two crew members. Ukraine claimed the vessel carried stolen grain and military cargo, a claim İşcen disputes by noting the ship was heading to load Russian grain.

Maritime risk firm Ambrey recorded more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this year. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has acknowledged striking dozens of ships this month, stating the targets supported Ukraine’s military. At least 31 seafarers have been killed or are missing since the attacks intensified earlier this month.

The recent violence has expanded into the western Black Sea, affecting waters off NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. A search-and-rescue operation is currently underway for a Comoros-flagged ship struck by drones just outside Romanian waters on Friday. One of its 13 crew members has been recovered, and three remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the incident.

The human toll is particularly severe among Syrian and Egyptian crews. Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh of the HS Dignity survived a drone strike on October 13 after the ship began sinking in heavy swells. Eleven crew members, including 18-year-old Syrian Hamza Suleiman, are missing. Mamdouh said he spent four hours in a life raft before being rescued. He is now waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to fly home and said he will not return to the Black Sea.

Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. He noted that while no one is forced to take these jobs, economic pressure compels many to sail. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea as a precaution. NATO has responded to the rising threat by deploying more patrol boats and radar to the region.