The Syrian government has called on the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the sinking of a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The ship, which was attacked by a drone, had 10 crew members missing, including 9 Syrians. Syria's General Directorate of Ports and Customs said the investigation should examine why search and rescue operations were halted before the fate of the missing crew was determined.
Bulgaria announced on Wednesday that it had suspended its search for the crew of the ship that sank after being attacked by a drone about 70 nautical miles from its shores. Admiral Rumen Nikolov stated that the search operations did not find any trace of the sailors, leading to the suspension of the rescue effort. The ship, "Alfa Titan", was attacked early on Tuesday in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, but the perpetrator of the attack remains unknown.
The Syrian General Directorate of Ports and Customs condemned the targeting of a civilian commercial ship, describing it as a serious violation of maritime safety and a direct threat to the lives of sailors and international trade routes. The directorate's director, Mazen Alush, urged the authorities to use all available technical means to locate and inspect the wreckage to help determine the cause of the incident.
Alush emphasized that the case should not be closed until all available means of verifying the fate of the crew have been exhausted. He also called on international organizations and maritime bodies to enhance measures to protect commercial shipping and crews in the Black Sea, given the increasing risks to maritime transport in the region.
Russia has been involved in attacks on shipping in the Black Sea using drones and missiles as part of its war with Ukraine. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev suggested that the nature of the cargo and the direction of the ship's voyage could point to Russia, but he noted that there was no evidence to directly blame Moscow.
The Russian Embassy in Sofia stated that the commercial ship was not among the targets of Russian drones. The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety in the Black Sea, with Syria calling for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the ship.
The International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities have been urged to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. The sinking of the cargo ship has highlighted the need for increased vigilance and cooperation to ensure the safety of shipping and crews in the region.
Key points
- Syria demands independent investigation into Black Sea ship sinking
- 10 crew members, including 9 Syrians, remain missing
- Incident raises concerns about maritime safety in the Black Sea
