Shipowners may refuse voyages to Bulgarian and Romanian ports

Some shipowners are considering refusing voyages to Bulgarian and Romanian ports because of attacks on merchant ships in the western Black Sea. The US shipping website gCaptain reported this on 5 November, citing Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of the maritime publication Lloyd’s List. Information about these intentions currently comes solely from that report. Flank had found no independent confirmation at the time of publication.

Shipowners explore grounds for refusing voyages

According to Meade, quoted by gCaptain, analysts are receiving enquiries about potential charterparty disputes as some owners seek grounds for refusing voyages to the two countries. In his assessment, the question is no longer simply how much the risk costs, but also whether owners, charterers and crews are willing to accept it.

This may signal a shift in commercial decisions, but does not prove that voyages have already been cancelled. For Bulgaria, the distinction matters: if such refusals are confirmed, they could limit the choice of carriers and delay deliveries, even if the ports themselves are not attacked. So far, there are no confirmed cases of Bulgarian ports being affected, a decline in traffic or changes in insurance premiums.

What has been reported about the October strikes

According to gCaptain, maritime security company Ambrey recorded ten strikes on ships between 5 and 28 October 2026: eight involving unmanned aerial vehicles and two involving unmanned surface vessels. The company attributes the strikes to Russia. The exact number, the breakdown by means of attack and responsibility for each incident have not been independently confirmed.

Other reports describe individual incidents. On 5–6 October, strikes hit three merchant ships in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania. Two of the ships sank, according to specialist shipping website Splash247, which reported the attacks. Ambrey’s assessment that Russian responsibility is highly likely is not an independent finding as to who carried them out.

Splash247 also reports a suspected strike on the tanker Yara J approximately 10 nautical miles south-east of Sulina. Splash247 quotes Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță as saying an investigation is under way after an approaching unmanned aerial vehicle went undetected by military radar.

A Reuters report dated 3 November, republished by gCaptain, describes seven strikes before the announced NATO reinforcements, a further strike on 23 October and the subsequent sinking of Contship Jet in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.

The exclusive economic zone is not territorial waters

An exclusive economic zone is not the same as territorial waters. The coastal state has rights over resources there, but navigation is free. A report of a strike in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone therefore does not in itself establish that Bulgarian territory has been attacked.

The agency clarifies that Romania is meanwhile making the broader accusation that Russia systematically attacks civilian ships. In the same report, the agency says that Sofia has not accused Russia, while the Russian Ministry of Defence did not respond to its enquiry.

The reported concerns and individual incidents do not in themselves allow the scale of the commercial impact or losses for Bulgaria to be calculated.