ED Shipping Idles Most of Fleet as Drone Strikes Disrupt Black Sea Trade

Crews on commercial vessels in the Black Sea now face a heightened risk of attack that has forced major shipping companies to withdraw their fleets. The disruption has left hundreds of sailors stranded and paused the flow of grain and cargo through one of the region's primary trade corridors.

Data from the maritime risk firm Ambrey indicates more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels occurred in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this year. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia. Russian defense officials have confirmed striking dozens of ships this month, claiming the targets supported the Ukrainian military effort.

The violence has claimed at least 31 lives, with many crews left missing. On Oct. 13, the cargo ship HS Dignity took a direct hit from a sea drone just after 1:30 a.m. The vessel, a 123-metre ship, began to sink in heavy swells. The 16 crew members, comprising Syrian and Egyptian nationals, abandoned the ship into the dark water.

Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh, 42, described a chaotic rescue effort where an uncontrolled boat appeared to approach the survivors. The group realized the boat was part of the attacking force before it rammed their position. Mamdouh coordinated the evacuation but lost track of most of his crew in the strong winds and currents. He spent four hours in a drifting life raft before a rescue vessel arrived. Five crew members survived, while 11 remain missing, including 18-year-old Syrian seafarer Hamza Suleiman.

Suleiman's father, Basel, received a phone call from his son on Oct. 12. The young man reported that they were in Bulgarian waters. Basel attempted to arrange his son's transfer to another ship in Turkey, but Suleiman remained aboard the Dignity. Mamdouh reported seeing Suleiman in a life jacket near the end, a detail that offers some hope to the family.

The attacks have extended into the western Black Sea, affecting waters near NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia after drones struck a Comoros-flagged ship just outside Romanian territorial waters on Friday. One body has been recovered from that incident, and three crew members from the 13-person team remain missing.

Shipping companies are reacting by scaling back operations. Demre İşcen, chief financial officer of the Turkey-based firm ED Shipping, stated that the company has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels. İşcen estimated the company is losing millions of dollars each month due to the halt in operations. The firm's ship Circon was previously hit in the Sea of Azov on June 5, killing two crew members.

Ukrainian officials said they targeted the Circon because it carried stolen grain, military cargo, and fuel. İşcen disputed the claim, maintaining the vessel was heading to load Russian grain. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea, reflecting the growing uncertainty among operators.

Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. He noted that while workers are not forced into these jobs, economic pressure often compels them to take the risk. Mamdouh and his surviving crewmates are currently waiting in Bulgaria for documentation to return home.

Mamdouh said he will not return to the Black Sea again. The crew of the HS Dignity remains in the region, awaiting the completion of their repatriation process while maritime security operations continue to expand in the area.