Romania is investigating a fire aboard the Comoros-flagged tanker Yara J in its territorial waters near Sulina. The crew extinguished the flames after a rescue vessel was dispatched. Defence Minister Radu Miruță says checks are continuing into a possible drone strike, with no established link to aerial targets detected nearby.
Geopolitics··Midday
Yara J reports a fire near Sulina
A fire broke out aboard the Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J on Wednesday evening in Romanian territorial waters near Sulina, Romania. The maritime rescue service dispatched a vessel to assist the crew.[1], [2]
Romania’s Defence Minister Radu Miruță says investigators are checking whether a drone struck the ship. He says defence radars did not observe a drone approaching the vessel. Authorities have not established a link between the fire and aerial targets detected in the area.[1]
Crew extinguishes fire; rescue vessel returns
Romania’s maritime rescue agency, ARSVOM, sent a rescue vessel after the maritime coordination centre requested help. Miruță says the crew soon reported that the fire was extinguished and assistance was no longer needed, so the rescue vessel returned. The 17 crew members were nationals of Syria, India and Iran.[1]
Tanker had been waiting to enter the Sulina Canal
The vessel had arrived from Türkiye and had been waiting off Sulina for several days. Local reporting described it as empty and awaiting suitable weather to transit the Sulina Canal. A seafarers’ union representative suggested an intentional attack. Miruță called the incident in Romanian territorial waters serious but announced no definitive finding on how the fire began or responsibility for any attack.[1]
