Seven seafarers missing and five rescued after a drone attack on a ship flying the San Marino flag in the Black Sea.
That is the toll from the incident involving the Wine Trader, a chemical tanker struck on the morning of Thursday, October 15, approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina, off the coast of Romania. Twelve people were on board. The State Congress of the Republic of San Marino is following developments and has announced it will raise the matter in international forums to demand compliance with safety standards for commercial shipping.
According to information released by the Romanian Naval Authority and relayed by the San Marino government, five crew members have been rescued, while there is still no word on the other seven. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
In a statement issued Friday, October 16, the State Congress said it was following “with deep concern the developments of the attack” and expressed “its solidarity with the crew members and their families, with particular concern for those still missing.”
The attack on the Wine Trader comes amid growing insecurity for merchant shipping in the Black Sea. In October alone, at least seven commercial vessels of various nationalities have been struck, mostly in waters off Romania and Bulgaria. According to the San Marino government, this string of incidents points to rising dangers for vessels engaged in international cargo transport.
“Even within the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the scale of these events draws attention to a broader issue of maritime security, one that concerns commercial shipping and the protection of seafarers’ lives regardless of the flag under which vessels sail,” the State Congress statement reads.
San Marino intends to bring the matter to the attention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), of which the Republic is a member state, to press for respect of international law and the provisions protecting merchant vessels and their crews.
“The San Marino government will take action within the relevant international bodies, particularly the International Maritime Organization (IMO), of which San Marino is a member state, to call for respect of international law and the rules safeguarding merchant shipping and the safety of seafarers,” the State Congress announced.
San Marino authorities will also follow the investigation into how the attack unfolded, with the aim of clarifying the circumstances under which the Wine Trader was struck and establishing any responsibility.
“San Marino authorities will follow the inquiries into the dynamics of the attack and will promote, through appropriate channels, any initiative useful to clarifying the circumstances of what happened and, where grounds exist, to pursuing accountability under international law,” the government stated.
For now, however, the priority remains finding the seven missing seafarers.
“Continuing the search and rescue operations and finding the missing seafarers remain the priority. The protection of human life at sea and the safety of commercial shipping are non-negotiable principles, to be upheld in all circumstances and regardless of flag,” the State Congress concluded.
