Eight crew missing after two tankers catch fire in Black Sea near Romania

Russian drones reportedly entered Romanian airspace.

Rescuers were searching for eight missing crew members on Thursday after two chemical tankers caught fire overnight in Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea, Romanian officials said, news agency Reuters reported.The incidents came as Russian drones reportedly entered Romanian airspace, raising fresh concerns over the spillover of the Russia-Ukraine war.Officials stopped short of directly linking the fires to the drones. However, the incidents follow strikes on at least five other cargo ships near the coasts of Romania and neighbouring Nato member Bulgaria over the previous 10 days. At least 23 sailors were reported lost in those attacks, which took place just outside Nato’s territorial waters.Both tankers were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina Canal, which connects the Danube River to the Black Sea. The route has become increasingly important for Ukraine as Russia continues to attack its Black Sea ports.Romania’s naval authority said it received an emergency alert from the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader. Eight of its 12 crew members were missing, while the remaining four were safe.The Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J also caught fire earlier. Romanian authorities initially said it was unclear whether the vessel had been attacked. All its crew members were safe.Both vessels caught fire near the mouth of the Sulina Canal, where ships often anchor while waiting to pass through because of weather-related delays and congestion.Romania shares a 614-km (381-mile) border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube River. It has reported repeated incursions by Russian drones into its airspace over the past four years.The recent attacks on Black Sea shipping have raised concerns about disruptions to global food supplies, as Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters.Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have forced Kyiv to rely increasingly on Danube River ports and shipping routes near the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts. Ukraine, in turn, has targeted Russian ships near the mouth of the Don River in the Sea of Azov.The latest incidents add to security concerns around a vital regional shipping corridor as the war continues to affect maritime traffic and commercial vessels in the Black Sea.