Romanian president reports propane tanker attacked off the coast

Romanian President Nicusor Dan has said that a propane tanker, the Gas Lisbon, sailing under the Liberian flag, was hit approximately 20 nautical miles from the Romanian coast last night.

Source: Dan on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Romanian president said the vessel had departed from the port of Alexandria (Egypt) and was heading to the Ukrainian port of Reni.

Shortly after the incident, two vessels from the Romanian Agency for the Safety of Human Life at Sea arrived at the scene and evacuated the entire crew, including three injured crew members. All were safely brought ashore, the president said.

A tugboat dispatched to the area is monitoring the vessel to ensure it does not drift and does not pose an additional risk to the safety of shipping, Dan added.

"State authorities are on high alert and are establishing the circumstances and causes and who is responsible for this serious incident, which is most likely part of the Russian Federation's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Dan stressed.

According to Digi24, the vessel was loaded with propane and an explosion occurred on board.

The tanker is located 26 kilometres from the coast off the city of Sfantu Gheorghe.

Sources report that the vessel was likely attacked by a naval drone. The origin of the drone is unknown.

The vessel is still on fire. A warning has been issued to all vessels in the area to ensure the safety of shipping, requesting that they avoid the danger zone.

Background:

• Russian forces carried out a missile strike on the merchant vessel Golden Leo, sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau, in the Black Sea off the coast of Odesa on 19 July. The vessel was carrying a cargo of grain. There were 17 Syrian and Indian nationals and one Ukrainian national – a pilot – on board. The pilot was killed.
• The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority later reported that 10 people had been killed as a result of the Russian strike on the merchant vessel near Odesa.

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