Merchant ships must not be targeted or exposed to danger, Transport Malta says after Black Sea drone strike

Civilian seafarers and merchant ships must not be targeted or exposed to danger, Transport Malta has said.

Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chris Fearne said that on 12th October, Malta Flagged vessel M/V Chelsea-3 was struck by three drones whilst sailing in the Black Sea. The ship was around 20 miles off of Bulgaria’s coast. 4 crew members sustained minor injuries while all crew members were rescued.

The crew included seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijan citizens.

“Malta reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of any attack against merchant ships and innocent seafarers, regardless of the attacker's identity, the flag flown, the crew's nationality, the origin or destination of the cargo, or the underlying circumstances,” Transport Malta said when contacted by this newsroom.

As the authority responsible for Malta Ship Registry, it is understood that Transport Malta has certain investigatory powers regarding incidents involving Malta-flagged vessels.

Asked about this, Transport Malta explained that the Malta Ship Registry’s mandate is to ensure that Maltese-flagged vessels comply with international conventions and regulations concerning maritime safety, seafarer welfare, and environmental protection.

"Once registered, a vessel falls under Malta’s legal framework, where State authorities exercise their responsibilities pursuant to national law and international obligations.”

“Where an incident involves hostile, unlawful, or criminal acts, rather than operational negligence or safety deficiencies, the investigation into potential criminal aspects falls within the purview of law enforcement or military authorities. Depending on the location and circumstances, arrangements may also be made for the nearest coastal State to lead the investigation in coordination with Maltese authorities. Accordingly, any action taken by Malta will depend on the specifics of the incident and the respective mandates of the authorities involved. The Malta Ship Registry remains committed to fulfilling its flag State duties and cooperating with relevant entities.”

At this stage, Transport Malta said, “it would be premature to comment on the scope, methodology, or timeframe of any investigation, as these will depend on the nature of the inquiry, available evidence, and inter-agency coordination, prioritising the safety of all parties concerned.”

The Bulgarian Prime Minister reportedly said that Bulgaria will continue to investigate the attacks together with its EU and NATO allies.

The Associated Press reports that while authorities do not possess clear evidence on who was responsible for the drone attacks, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev said “it makes no sense for Ukraine to destroy its own ships in the Black Sea, and the results of these strikes favor Russia’s interests.” It reports that the Russian Ambassador said she had no information from the Russian defence ministry related to the attacks on Black Sea commercial vessels, and that she did not rule out the posisbility of the attacks representing a provocation by a third part.