Dan: At present, no details are available regarding the potential involvement of anyone in sinking the ship 

On Thursday evening, a merchant ship caught fire and sank off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea, likely after being hit, according to Romanian President Nicușor Dan and the authorities. On Friday, the Romanian Border Police confirmed a fire on board a commercial ship sailing through Romania's exclusive economic zone, but did not provide a cause. Shipping and port facilities in the Black Sea have been repeatedly targeted since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with the pace of attacks escalating in 2026.

An investigation will be carried out 

During a press conference in Chisinau, Moldova, on Thursday, Dan informed journalists that the ship had been hit and appeared to have sunk. He stated that, at present, no details were available regarding the potential involvement of any parties in a strike. The president said that an investigation will be carried out and the facts will be established, but that it is not good for us to start speculating. He added that the event had taken place outside Romania's territorial waters.

12 people on board the merchant ship had been rescued. 

The Romanian Border Police said in a statement that all 12 people on board the merchant ship had been rescued. Ten people were rescued by the border guards, one of them suffering an injury, while two others were saved by the crew of a merchant ship. On Friday, the Romanian Border Police confirmed a fire on board a commercial ship sailing through Romania’s exclusive economic zone. However, they did not provide a cause.

An incident that was on the limit, but outside our territorial waters

'This evening, we had an incident that was on the border of our territorial waters. A vessel was hit. Fortunately, thanks to the prompt action of our coast guard in adverse weather conditions, all crew members were rescued. The vessel was hit and appears to have sunk. At the moment, however, we do not know who was responsible or what kind of vessel it was,” President of Romania Nicușor Dan told journalists during a press conference at the end of his visit to Moldova.

'An investigation will be carried out, and the truth will come to light, but it is unwise to speculate at this stage,' Dan said, emphasising that no information was currently available regarding who might have been involved in the incident.

The rescue mission was conducted in challenging circumstances,

Romanian Border Police have stated that the rescue mission was conducted in challenging circumstances, with waves reaching around 2.5 metres in height. However, the prompt action of the border police officers, who oversaw the coordination of the two ARSVOM vessels and the commercial vessel, resulted in the successful rescue of all individuals in need of assistance.

Source: Reuters + Agencies

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