# Drones Strike Two Cargo Ships off Bulgaria – One Vessel Sunk **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** BTA – Bulgarian News Agency | **Published:** 2026-10-06 | **Updated:** 2026-10-23 **Tags:** Schwarzes Meer, Bulgarien, Alfa Watan, Able, Drohnenangriff, Seefracht, Schifffahrtsrisiko, War Risk, Warna, Sulina, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung > Two cargo vessels were struck by drones off the coast of Bulgaria. One ship sank, and 18 persons from the second cargo vessel were rescued. The perpetrators remain unidentified. --- In the early morning of October 6, 2026, two merchant vessels were hit by air and sea drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The incident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles, or about 130 kilometers, east of the coastal city of Byala. The "Alfa Watan," sailing under the flag of Togo, was severely damaged and sank. By afternoon, no confirmed information was available regarding the fate of the crew. Bulgarian authorities were searching for survivors using ships and aircraft. The vessel's cargo was initially unknown. The general cargo ship "Able," flying the Palauan flag, was also hit. A fire broke out on board. All 18 crew members were able to abandon the vessel and were taken aboard the Bulgarian ferry "Dioscuria." Two sailors were treated for injuries at a hospital in Varna. The "Able" was carrying wheat. Important for context: The Bulgarian government confirmed the attack but initially named no responsible party. Therefore, it would be premature to attribute the drones definitively to Russia or Ukraine. The exact number of crew members aboard the "Alfa Watan" also remained unclear. Nevertheless, this represents a clear warning signal for shipping in the western Black Sea. The attack occurred far from the direct Ukrainian coast and near major routes to Danube ports. Insurers, shipowners, and charterers will likely reassess the situation. Higher war risk premiums, stricter route approvals, or ad hoc diversions are possible. Anyone planning cargo shipments via Constanta, Sulina, Galati, Varna, or Burgas should not rely on previous transit times. While there is no general closure at present, individual shipping lines may change their requirements very quickly. --- In dispatch operations, departures, vessel positions, and insurance coverage should be checked daily. For new bookings, war risk clauses and potential additional costs should be included in the quote. Shippers should also clarify who bears the costs in case of route diversion, voyage interruption, or salvage operations. In short: The Black Sea remains navigable, but the risk has significantly increased even off the coast of Bulgaria. --- The attack occurred on October 6, 2026 at approximately 03:00 local time. The location was approximately 70 nautical miles east of Byala in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The vessels affected were the "Alfa Watan" under Togo flag and the "Able" under Palau flag. The "Alfa Watan" sank following severe structural damage. Initially, there were no confirmed reports regarding the crew of the "Alfa Watan". All 18 persons aboard the "Able" were rescued; two were hospitalized with injuries. According to BTA, the crew consisted of 11 Turkish and 7 Indian seafarers. The "Able" was carrying wheat. As of October 6, the origin of the drones had not been officially clarified. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Bulgaria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/bg) - [India](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/in) - [Turkey](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/tr) - [Palau](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pw) - [Togo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/tg) ### Seaports - [Varna (BG VAR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/varna-port-bg-var) - [Burgas (BG BOJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/burgas-port-bg-boj) - [Sulina (RO SUL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/sulina-port-ro-sul) - [Constanta (RO CND)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/constanta-port-ro-cnd) - [Galati (RO GAL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/galati-port-ro-gal) ### Glossary - [Supply Chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain) - [Marine insurance](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/marine-insurance) - [rerouting](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rerouting) - [route release](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/route-release) - [War Risk Surcharge](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/war-risk-surcharge) - [Exclusive Economic Zone](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/exclusive-economic-zone) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/drohnen-treffen-zwei-frachter-vor-bulgarien-ein-schiff-gesunken-20261006180812](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/drohnen-treffen-zwei-frachter-vor-bulgarien-ein-schiff-gesunken-20261006180812)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/drohnen-treffen-zwei-frachter-vor-bulgarien-ein-schiff-gesunken-20261006180812](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/drohnen-treffen-zwei-frachter-vor-bulgarien-ein-schiff-gesunken-20261006180812)*