Cargo ship LARISSA 1 hit by drone off Romania

The Palau-flagged general cargo ship LARISSA 1 was hit by a drone off Sfântu Gheorghe in Romania’s territorial sea, maritime news website Maritime.bg reported on 14 November. According to the report, the incident was reported at around 21:40 on 13 November 2026, approximately 6.8 nautical miles north-east of the settlement. The information comes from a single source citing Romanian publications. At the time of publication, Flank had found no independent confirmation.

Maritime.bg reports a strike on a ship’s crane

According to Maritime.bg, the drone struck a crane on the ship, causing limited damage. The master reported to the maritime authorities in Sulina that the crew were unharmed, Maritime.bg reports. The report identifies the vessel by its IMO number, 9154268, the ship’s permanent identification number.

At the time of publication, Flank had found no official statement from the Romanian authorities on the strike, its location or its consequences. The drone’s type, operator and origin have not been established. It is also unclear whether the ship was deliberately targeted.

Confirming the location is essential to the assessment

If the location given by Maritime.bg is confirmed, the strike hit a merchant ship in Romania’s territorial sea. This is the belt of sea extending up to 12 nautical miles from the coast that forms part of the state’s territory. The impact itself, however, does not prove a deliberate attack on Romania or NATO. Such an assessment requires the perpetrator, trajectory and intent to be established.

In Flank’s assessment, the regional significance of the incident, including for Bulgaria, relates to air surveillance and warnings to civilian vessels. Reports of a strike on a crane and limited damage do not, in themselves, allow the drone’s model or guidance method to be determined.