Bulgarian Navy Responds to Distress Call, Ukrainian Crew Rescued after Cargo Ship Sinks in Black Sea

The Naval Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria were placed on alert on October 12 after a Cameroonian-flagged cargo ship began taking on water in the Black Sea.

Bulgaria’s defense ministry said in a statement that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Varna received a distress signal on Sunday reporting a hole in the hull and flooding about 140 nautical miles east of Varna, within Bulgaria’s search and rescue zone. The ship’s ten Ukrainian crew members abandoned the vessel using two life rafts after it developed a heavy list.

MRCC Varna launched an immediate rescue effort, deploying a Bulgarian Navy helicopter and placing the corvette Bodri on standby. The nearby Turkish merchant vessel Morat Ilhan also joined the operation.

Through joint coordination, the helicopter and Morat Ilhan located both life rafts and rescued all ten sailors. After medical assessment, no air evacuation was needed.

Bulgarian defense authorities said the rescue was completed quickly through close coordination between Bulgarian and Turkish maritime units. The Navy helicopter later returned to Chaika Naval Helicopter Air Base.