Cargo ship carrying US coal damaged in Black Sea, Romania says

A Liberian-flagged bulk carrier transporting U.S. coal to Ukraine was damaged in the Black Sea, with Romanian authorities saying the incident may have been caused by a maritime drone or a naval mine.

The vessel, identified as Christiana B, sustained damage overnight while sailing approximately 22 nautical miles southeast of the Romanian port of Sfântu Gheorghe, within Romania’s exclusive economic zone.

“According to a preliminary assessment, the incident in the area of hold No. 6 may have been caused by the impact of a maritime drone or the explosion of a naval mine,” Romania’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The crew issued a distress signal, but no injuries were reported, according to the ship’s captain.

Romanian rescue services dispatched the vessels SAR Apollo and SAR Artemis, along with a helicopter, to assist at the scene.

Authorities said the ship was carrying U.S. coal from Norfolk to Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova