The Black Sea Has Become the Most Dangerous Area for Sailors: 570 Attacks on Vessels and 40 Sailors Killed

The Black Sea this year has become the most dangerous region for merchant shipping: according to maritime organizations, more than 570 ships have been attacked, and 40 sailors have died

The Black Sea has become more dangerous for merchant ships than the Persian Gulf: since the beginning of the year, more than 570 ships have been attacked here, and the number of sailors killed has reached 40. Against the backdrop of increasing strikes by Russia and Ukraine, risks to crews are rising, port activity in Ukrainian ports is decreasing, and grain export threats are emerging.

This is written by the Financial Times.

The Black Sea — the most dangerous region for merchant fleets

The Black Sea remains an important route for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil, but because of the war shipping here increasingly resembles a combat zone. Crews of oil tankers, cargo ships, and grain carriers face the risk of drones, missiles, and naval mines.

According to Ambrey, a maritime security company, and the International Maritime Organization, this year more than 570 ships were attacked in the Black Sea, resulting in 40 sailors killed. For comparison, about 24 deaths are known in the Strait of Hormuz.

Oleg Hryhoruk, head of the Ukrainian Maritime Transport Workers’ Union, emphasized that entering Ukrainian ports and sailing the Black Sea pose a serious threat to crew lives.

According to Ambrey, in the third quarter the number of attacks rose sharply: from July to September about 387 ships were struck — five times more than in the previous quarter. On average, more than four attacks per day occurred.

Russia intensified strikes on ships

As the Financial Times notes, attacks on merchant shipping became more intense in the summer when Ukraine intensified drone strikes on Russian ships, and hostilities spread to the Kerch Strait.

According to Ambrey, over the last 45 days Russia accounted for about 90% of attacks on ships. At the same time, danger for crews is increasing due to a shift in attack tactics.

Senior Ambrey analyst Thomas Alexa explained that both sides are increasingly striking the bridge and living quarters of ships. Earlier Ukrainian attacks mostly targeted equipment, engine rooms, or steering systems, whereas the new tactic can lead to more fatalities among sailors.

Additional danger comes from naval mines and interference with satellite navigation systems, making it harder for ships to chart safe routes.

Ukrainian ports are losing transport volumes

The worsening situation is already affecting Ukrainian port operations. According to port operator TIS, last month the port serviced fewer than 10 ships, whereas in July there were about 400.

Ukraine is trying to reroute part of its exports through smaller ports on the Danube. But their capacity is limited, and port infrastructure is also under attack.

According to data cited in the article from the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Development, in August the export of agricultural products by sea fell to 1,4 million tons — about 75% below prewar levels.

Russia, for its part, is redirecting part of grain shipments along more expensive routes through the Baltic Sea and Vladivostok. To protect oil tankers from Ukrainian drones, Moscow also uses anti-drone nets and more sophisticated methods of spoofing GPS signals.

Why the escalation is dangerous for Ukrainian farmers

Problems with sea transportation threaten not only the port sector but also farmers’ incomes. Export earnings provide farmers with funds to purchase fuel, seeds, and fertilizers needed for the next season.

Andriy Verevsky, head of the large Ukrainian sunflower oil exporter Kernel, warned that prolonged blocking of port routes and rising shipping costs could deprive small and medium farms of resources for the planting season.

Thus, the consequences of attacks may manifest not only in reduced shipments today but also in reduced agricultural production in the future.

Could the situation in the Black Sea worsen

Experts warn that without effective protection mechanisms for shipping, risks could continue to rise. Andriy Klymenko, head of the monitoring group

The prospect of an EU naval operation in the Black Sea remains unclear, despite calls from some European politicians to strengthen response to attacks.

While hostilities continue, merchant ships, crews, and port infrastructure will remain at risk. Further reductions in maritime exports could create additional difficulties for the Ukrainian economy and the agricultural sector.

Earlier StopKor reported that 6 October a Russian combat drone attacked a civilian merchant vessel under the Marshall Islands flag in the Black Sea, which was carrying rapeseed oil: a steward was killed, seven other crew members were wounded. The vessel was damaged, and a fire broke out on board. This is another instance of Russian attacks on civilian shipping, which threaten sailors and Ukrainian export of agricultural products.