ZIM Container Ship Sinks in Black Sea Following Uncrewed Vessel Attack
A ZIM container ship sailing from Haifa Port sank in the Black Sea after being struck by three uncrewed vessels. All 18 crew members were safely rescued.
A container ship operated by ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has sunk in the Black Sea following an attack by three uncrewed surface vessels. The vessel, named Contship Jet, departed from Haifa Port and was en route to Romania's Port of Constanta when it was struck 17 nautical miles off Cape Kaliakra in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone.
All 18 crew members, comprising 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, were safely rescued and transferred to the Bulgarian port of Varna. The sinking also resulted in the complete loss of 421 containers carrying valuable cargo, including lithium-ion batteries, corrosive liquids, and acids. Initial inspections by the Bulgarian government detected no signs of pollution.
Bulgarian Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov stated that military forces failed to intercept the attacking drones due to legal constraints, as the incident occurred within the exclusive economic zone rather than territorial waters, alongside severe weather conditions. Reports indicate that the uncrewed vessels approached at speeds of roughly 25 knots, showcasing a previously unseen design in Black Sea waters.
Oren Caspi, chairman of the ZIM workers union, emphasized the strategic importance of safeguarding the national carrier amid ongoing security threats and boycotts. Local authorities and maritime experts continue to investigate the unprecedented attack, which was monitored by a French maritime patrol aircraft.
