More seafarers have died in the Black Sea in 2026 than in any other body of water, outstripping fatalities in the Gulf, which has garnered more attention worldwide.
Source: Financial Times , citing shipowners and maritime organisations
Details: Crews on oil tankers, cargo ships and grain carriers entering the Black Sea close to EU and NATO territories must run the gauntlet of drone attacks. Some estimates put the number of attacks in the Black Sea as more than six times higher than in the Gulf.
"For me, the Black Sea and calling [at] Ukrainian ports is near suicidal," said Oleh Hryhoriuk, chair of the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine.
Maritime security firm Ambrey and the International Maritime Organisation report that over 570 ships have been targeted in the Black Sea this year, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 seafarers. In comparison, 24 fatalities have been confirmed in the Strait of Hormuz.
While some vessels were caught in the crossfire during port bombardments, others were intentionally targeted. Ambrey notes that the third quarter saw an average of over four attacks daily.
Driven by record-high freight rates, some shipping firms are willing to take the risk of transporting oil from the Middle East. However, shipping groups indicate that the majority are reluctant to send their fleets into the Black Sea, given the lower profit margins and significantly higher risks involved in trading there.
Background: Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu has stated that Russia is turning the Black Sea into a danger zone for civilian vessels.
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