More than 20 containers carrying hazardous substances are still adrift in the Black Sea after falling from the Greek-operated container ship CONTSHIP JET, which was hit on Wednesday by maritime drones off the Bulgarian coast. A navigational warning from Bulgarian maritime authorities remained in force on Thursday morning.

The vessel, sailing under the Liberian flag, had left Haifa bound for Constanța with 421 containers on board. According to the crew, it was struck by three drones about 30 kilometres from Cape Kaliakra, outside Bulgarian territorial waters, around midday Wednesday. A French maritime patrol aircraft had earlier spotted the drones and warned ships in the area.

After the attack the ship listed heavily and was left drifting. Bulgarian authorities say the fallen containers include flammable gases, non-flammable non-toxic gases, flammable liquids and other dangerous goods. The reported area is south-east of Cape Kaliakra on Bulgaria’s northern coast, roughly 60 kilometres from the Romanian border.

The warning does not ban navigation or close ports; it asks crews to proceed with caution, as containers can be hard to see at night or in rough seas. No recovery operation for the containers has been announced.

Bulgarian authorities have begun checks for possible pollution. Early inspections near the shore found no visible oil slick or other clear contamination; laboratory tests were also announced.

All 18 crew members were rescued by the Bulgarian Navy and Border Police. The distress call reached Bulgarian authorities at 12.01 via the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Constanța; the crew abandoned ship at 12.13. The sailors arrived in Varna late Wednesday evening; the owner arranged hotel accommodation, and authorities reported no casualties.

CONTSHIP JET is, according to cited reports, the fifth ship struck in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the past month. The origin of the drones has not been established, and the investigation continues.

Image: container ship on the Black Sea near Constanța (Wikimedia Commons).

Sources consulted: Containers from ship attacked Wednesday adrift in Black Sea - Mediafax.