Human remains found aboard drone-damaged tanker Wine Trader in Bulgaria
Human remains have been discovered aboard the tanker Wine Trader during repair preparations in Varna, Bulgaria, following a drone strike that damaged the vessel in the Black Sea last month.
The Varna District Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on November 7 that severely damaged human remains were found while workers were clearing debris from the vessel at a local ship repair facility. DNA examinations have been ordered to establish the identities of the deceased, while an investigation continues under the supervision of Bulgarian prosecutors.
The San Marino-flagged tanker arrived in Varna in early November after sustaining damage in an incident near Romania’s Black Sea coast on October 15. The vessel had reported a fire in its superstructure while operating near the Sulina Channel, which connects the Danube River with the Black Sea.
Romanian authorities launched a rescue operation following the incident and evacuated five crew members. Seven other seafarers were reported missing, with rescue efforts complicated by adverse weather conditions.
Investigation continues in Bulgaria and Romania
According to the Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office, the human remains were discovered during work to clear damaged sections of the vessel. Authorities have not officially established the number or identities of the deceased, pending forensic examination.
The prosecutor’s statement also confirmed that there were no Bulgarian nationals among the crew and that a separate investigation into the incident is underway in Romania.
The Wine Trader incident occurred amid heightened security risks for commercial shipping in the Black Sea, where military activity and drone attacks have raised concerns about the safety of vessels operating near Ukrainian and Romanian maritime routes.
The area surrounding the Sulina Channel is an important access point for maritime traffic serving Danube ports, including routes used for agricultural exports. Vessels frequently operate or wait near the channel entrance before proceeding inland.
The discovery of human remains aboard Wine Trader represents a significant development in the investigation, although the final casualty count and the identities of those who died remain subject to official confirmation.
