HS Dignity crew survives drone attack as Black Sea trade freezes

The cargo ship HS Dignity began sinking in the Black Sea at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 13 after a sea drone struck its hull. The vessel, which was traveling from Algeria to Romania to load grain, rolled in heavy swells as the captain ordered the 16 Syrian and Egyptian crew members to abandon ship.

Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh, 42, described seeing a fast-moving boat approach in the darkness. The crew shone flashlights at it, expecting rescuers, but found no one at the controls. "We realized that this boat was also part of the group that was attacking us. Of course, we all ran," Mamdouh said. The drone rammed the 123-metre ship before the lifeboats could be fully launched.

Maritime analysts state that nearly 50 commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea this month. The strikes have brought traffic in the key shipping corridor to a standstill. At least 31 seafarers have been killed or are missing. NATO has responded by deploying more patrol boats and radar systems to enhance maritime security.

Many attacks have occurred in the western Black Sea, including off the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, a search-and-rescue operation began after a Comoros-flagged ship was hit by drones just outside Romanian territorial waters. One body from that vessel's 13 crew members has been recovered, and three remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the strike.

Data from maritime risk firm Ambrey suggest more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels have occurred in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this year. The firm attributes 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October to Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defence has acknowledged striking dozens of ships this month, stating they supported Ukraine's military.

Eleven crew members of the HS Dignity are missing, including 18-year-old Syrian sailor Hamza Suleiman. His father, Basel, said his son called on Oct. 12 and reported their location in Bulgaria. Suleiman had grown fearful after the Alfa Watan was struck by drones on Oct. 6, an attack that left ten crew members unaccounted for. Mamdouh told the father he last saw Suleiman wearing a life jacket.

Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed. "Nobody is forced to take these jobs, but in other ways you are forced. If you want to work, you have to go," he said. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea.

Turkey-based ED Shipping has laid up 19 of its 26 vessels. Chief financial officer Demre İşcen said the company is losing millions of dollars each month. The ship Circon was hit in the Sea of Azov on June 5, killing two crew members. Ukraine acknowledged that attack, saying the vessels carried stolen Ukrainian grain, military cargo, and fuel. İşcen disputes this, noting the ship was heading to load Russian grain. Mamdouh and his surviving crewmates are waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to fly home.