By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
On October 29, 2026, Bulgarian military prosecutors opened an investigation into a maritime drone attack that sank the Liberian-flagged container ship CONTSHIP JET in the western Black Sea. More than 20 containers were left drifting near the wreck, including cargo classified as dangerous goods, while Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania agreed to improve maritime surveillance and information sharing.
The ship sustained three drone hits on October 28, approximately 17 nautical miles east of Bulgaria's Cape Kaliakra, in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone but outside its territorial waters. All 18 crew members were rescued.
CONTSHIP JET was sailing from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, with 421 containers aboard. A Bulgarian navigational warning recorded the vessel as having sunk at 20:30 UTC on October 28. Authorities have not identified the attacker.
Bulgarian Prosecutors Open War-Law Investigation
The Sofia Military District Prosecutor's Office announced proceedings on October 29 under Article 415(1) of Bulgaria's Criminal Code, concerning violations of international rules governing warfare.
The office cited paragraphs 41, 42 and 67 of the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. Its announcement described the attack on the vessel, its crew and cargo as the subject of an investigation into the alleged use of prohibited methods of warfare. Prosecutors referred to Liberia, the ship's flag state, as neutral.
A military investigator has been assigned to the case. Military police in Varna were instructed to question the surviving sailors, while investigators examine the ship's ownership, cargo, route, crew and damage.
No suspect has been publicly identified. The opening of a criminal investigation does not establish who launched the drones or whether an offence under the laws of war has been proven.
Dangerous Cargo Adrift Near the Wreck
Bulgarian maritime authorities issued NAVWARN 768/26, placing the wreck at 43°07.80′N, 028°45.36′E, southeast of Cape Kaliakra. The warning records the sinking at 20:30 UTC on October 28; it does not establish that the warning itself was issued at that time.
More than 20 containers were reported adrift. The lost cargo included flammable gases, non-flammable and non-toxic gases, flammable liquids and other dangerous goods. Mariners were advised to exercise extreme caution because the wreck and containers presented an immediate navigational danger.
Reuters reported that the ship's cargo included lithium-ion batteries, corrosive liquids, acids and industrial components. Bulgarian authorities said initial inspections found no visible signs of marine pollution. That assessment did not remove the navigational hazard or establish that all environmental risks had passed.
French Patrol Aircraft Reported Maritime Drones
Bulgaria's Defense Ministry said a French maritime patrol aircraft reported sightings of maritime drones in the western Black Sea to the Bulgarian Navy's operations centre. The aircraft and Bulgarian naval surveillance systems subsequently observed three hits on CONTSHIP JET, beginning at approximately noon local time on October 28.
The ministry did not disclose when the warning reached its operations centre or the time available before the first impact. Bulgarian naval commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov subsequently told national television that the warning had not enabled authorities to prevent the attack, Reuters reported.
Three Bulgarian naval vessels were dispatched for search and rescue. According to the Transport Ministry, the alert arrived via the Constanța Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at 12:01, and the crew abandoned ship at 12:13. Eight sailors were taken aboard a Bulgarian naval boat at 12:53, while ten remained in a lifeboat. The Bulgarian Navy reported all 18 rescued by 13:45.
The crew comprised 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, according to the ship's management company.
Romania's Defense Ministry confirmed on October 27 that a French Navy ATLANTIQUE 2 aircraft was operating from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base on maritime surveillance missions scheduled from October 18 to November 6. Bulgaria did not identify the aircraft involved in the CONTSHIP JET incident by model, so it cannot be established from the statements that it was the same aircraft.
Neither ministry has released a detailed account of the warning sequence or said whether an interception was attempted.
ZIM Confirms Charter, Attacker Remains Unknown
Israeli shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services said on October 28 that the vessel was under charter to the company. It confirmed that the owners had reported the crew's safe evacuation and said the cargo situation was being assessed as customers were contacted.
The Greek-managed ship sailed under the Liberian flag on a voyage from Israel to Romania. Its connection to ZIM is confirmed, but no evidence has established that the charterer or the ship's point of departure determined its selection as a target.
Three Black Sea Allies Agree Closer Coordination
The attack took place as Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea met in Sofia on October 28.
In a joint statement, the three NATO allies condemned attacks on merchant vessels and agreed to strengthen maritime situational awareness, intelligence sharing and early-warning arrangements, coordinating with NATO where necessary. They also called on all parties to respect freedom of navigation and the applicable rules of international law.
Romania's Defense Ministry said the meeting addressed closer coordination among national naval forces. Güler called for commercial shipping to be kept outside the conflict and said Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania would consider further regional measures without widening the confrontation.
The three countries already operate the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea Task Group (MCM BLACK SEA), established in 2024 to tackle drifting mines. They signed an amendment in July 2026 to add critical undersea infrastructure protection to the group's remit, a separate undertaking from any merchant-ship escort mission.
Bulgaria had earlier called for a moratorium on attacks against civilian shipping, seeking wider support after strikes near its coast. Türkiye has pursued separate discussions with Russia and Ukraine on protecting Black Sea commercial navigation, without an announced agreement.
The Sofia meeting produced commitments to closer coordination. The three governments did not announce a permanent escort force, a protected commercial corridor or a new drone-interception mission.
NATO Surveillance Grows as Ship Attacks Continue
The sinking followed NATO's announcement of additional Black Sea surveillance measures after earlier attacks. The alliance said members had deployed or were preparing maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, unmanned platforms and specialist personnel. A US Navy P-8A Poseidon had already begun reconnaissance flights from Bulgaria.
On October 23, the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv was hit by a drone off Romania, killing one Ukrainian sailor and leaving three crew members missing. Romanian authorities pressed for additional allied surveillance following that attack.
Surveillance aircraft were operating in the western Black Sea when CONTSHIP JET was hit. Their presence did not amount to an announced standing mission to intercept maritime drones or escort merchant ships.
Bulgarian investigators must still establish who carried out the attack. Maritime authorities face the separate task of managing the wreck and drifting containers, while the three coastal allies have yet to announce how their new coordination commitments will alter protection for commercial traffic.
Sources: Sofia Military District Prosecutor's Office; Bulgarian Ministry of Defense; Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications; Bulgarian Maritime Traffic Information Service, NAVWARN 768/26; Romanian Ministry of National Defence; Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defense; ZIM Integrated Shipping Services; Reuters; Associated Press; Bosphorus News review and reporting.