Security Risks Surge in Black Sea as Second Sunflower Oil Tanker Attacked by Drone

The Trans-Oil Group has reported a serious new incident in the Black Sea, heightening risks to maritime transport safety and the timely execution of export commitments for sunflower oil supplies from the Republic of Moldova.

On the evening of Saturday, 14 November, the tanker EVIAPETROL V was targeted by a military drone while at anchor at the entrance to the Sulina Canal, situated near the Romanian coast. The vessel was awaiting clearance to transit the canal en route to the Giurgiulești International Free Port, where it was scheduled to be loaded with approximately 6,500 tonnes of sunflower oil. Following the attack, the tanker sustained damage that, according to Trans-Oil, will prevent it from completing its planned voyage. All crew members were reported safe, and preliminary assessments indicate no casualties.

Management of the group expressed deep concern, noting that this is the second incident in a single month involving a tanker bound for Giurgiulești to load vegetable oil. On 15 October 2026, the tanker WINE TRADER was also subjected to a drone attack in the Sulina area while following a similar route.

The recurrence of these strikes highlights escalating threats to civilian shipping within the Black Sea region and poses a direct challenge to the stability of Moldovan export logistics. For the Trans-Oil Group, these developments carry significant commercial and operational weight, including potential delivery delays, increased logistical expenses, and the risk of failing to meet international contractual deadlines. Such extraordinary events may be formally invoked as force majeure under the terms of relevant contracts and applicable law.

Trans-Oil Group emphasized that the safety of crews and civilian vessels must remain a paramount priority, alongside the necessity for predictable access to international maritime routes. Ensuring stable shipping through the Sulina Canal is of strategic importance for agri-food exports, industrial continuity, and the overall sustainability of the Republic of Moldova's foreign trade.

Source: Logos Press