Black Sea attacks leave 31 missing, trade stalled

Drone strikes in the Black Sea have killed or left missing at least 31 seafarers this month, forced cargo crews to abandon ships and brought much of the traffic in the corridor to a standstill. Grain shipments, merchant fleets and crews' travel plans are all affected. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea.

On Oct. 13 at about 1:30 a.m., the HS Dignity's 16 Syrian and Egyptian crew members donned life jackets after a sea drone hit the hull. The captain ordered the vessel abandoned. Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh, 42, said the crew then spotted a boat approaching in the dark and aimed flashlights at it, assuming rescuers had arrived. "We realized that this boat was also part of the group that was attacking us. Of course, we all ran," Mamdouh said. The drone rammed the ship. "We didn't have time to finish launching the lifeboats," he said. The Dignity sank.

Maritime analysts say nearly 50 commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea this month as the Russia-Ukraine war extends to the water. NATO has increased maritime security, adding patrol boats and radar. Attacks have concentrated in the western Black Sea, near NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, a search was underway for crew of a Comoros-flagged ship hit by drones just outside Romanian waters. One body from the 13-person crew has been recovered and three are missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia.

Ambrey, a maritime risk firm, recorded more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels this year in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 October attacks to Russia. Russia's Ministry of Defence says it has struck dozens of ships this month, almost always stating they supported Ukraine's military.

Mamdouh floated in a life raft for four hours before the Azov Concord reached him. He is one of five survivors. Eleven crew are missing, including 18-year-old Hamza Suleiman, a Syrian on his first voyage. His father, Basel, said the young man called on Oct. 12 and said, "Dad, we're in Bulgaria now." Suleiman had sought an engine room post but worked on deck and grew fearful after the Alfa Watan was struck by drones on Oct. 6. Ten crew from that ship, mostly Syrian, have not been recovered.

Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., counts at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed. "Nobody is forced to take these jobs, but in other ways you are forced. If you want to work, you have to go," he said. Turkey-based ED Shipping has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels, and chief financial officer Demre İşcen said the company loses millions of dollars each month. Mamdouh and his surviving crewmates await new documents in Bulgaria. "I will not go back to the Black Sea again. Never," he said.

The Dignity sailed from Algeria and was bound for Romania to load grain.