A serious incident involving a large merchant vessel has occurred in the Black Sea. The tanker Gas Lisbon, flying the flag of Liberia, was struck in an area located 20 nautical miles from the Romanian coast. Preliminary data indicates that a powerful explosion occurred on board, likely resulting from an attack using a sea drone.
Route details and attack version
According to information provided by Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă, the vessel was on a voyage from the Egyptian port of Alexandria. Its final destination was the Ukrainian port of Reni. The Romanian leader stated that the country's state authorities are on high alert to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Ciucă emphasized that the incident is most likely part of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Sources from the Digi24 television channel report that the attack was carried out using a maritime unmanned vehicle, although the exact origin of the drone remains unknown at this time.
Rescue operation and condition of the injured
Immediately after the explosion alarm, two vessels from the Romanian Agency for Safety of Life at Sea (ARSVOM) were dispatched to the scene. Thanks to the swift actions of the rescuers, all 17 crew members were evacuated.
Three sailors sustained injuries and were taken to medical facilities. According to Antena3, two of the injured have burns covering 10 to 15% of their body surface. The third crew member suffered multiple wounds and severe bleeding.
Fire and navigation threat
Currently, the damaged tanker is at anchor. Despite the crew being rescued, a fire continues on board the vessel. To prevent drifting and minimize the threat to safety at sea, a specialized tugboat has been brought alongside the tanker.
To ensure the safety of navigation, an official warning has been issued to all vessels in the incident area, instructing them to avoid the affected zone.
Context: rising threats in the Black Sea
The incident involving the Gas Lisbon occurs against a backdrop of increasing attacks on civilian vessels in the region. We recall that on July 19, the Russian side attacked a merchant vessel flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, which was departing from a Ukrainian port after loading corn. The strike resulted in ten deaths, while eight others were rescued.
Additionally, on July 17, a Russian drone struck the bulk carrier Venturo, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which was located in one of the ports of Odesa. These events indicate growing tension and risks for international maritime trade in the Black Sea waters.
