Black Sea kills more sailors than the Gulf in 2026
Forty seafarers died in the Black Sea this year, compared with 24 in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime data.
By Ashley Roberts ·
The Black Sea is the deadliest body of water for sailors this year.
At least 40 seafarers have been killed in the region so far in 2026. That number exceeds the 24 deaths confirmed in the Strait of Hormuz, a route that has received more global attention.
Drone attacks drive the danger. Crews on oil tankers, cargo ships, and grain carriers face strikes near EU and NATO territory. Some estimates put the attack rate in the Black Sea at more than six times higher than in the Gulf.
Maritime security firm Ambrey and the International Maritime Organisation report that more than 570 ships were targeted this year. In the third quarter, the average attack rate reached over four per day. Some vessels were hit by crossfire when ports were bombarded, while others were deliberately struck.
Oleh Hryhoriuk, chair of the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine, described the risk as severe. He said that sailing the Black Sea and calling at Ukrainian ports is near suicidal.
Economic factors shape how companies react to the threat. Record freight rates have led some firms to accept the risk of Middle East oil transport. In the Black Sea, lower profit margins and higher risks have led most operators to keep their fleets away. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu stated that Russia is turning the area into a danger zone for civilian vessels.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
