Black Sea becomes world's deadliest waterway as 38 sailors killed since June
At least 38 sailors have been killed in Black Sea attacks since June, making it deadlier than the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
The rising toll shows how the Russia-Ukraine war is killing civilians caught in commercial shipping, and the shift toward sinking rather than disabling ships marks a dangerous escalation.
In Australia. No direct Australian effect yet, but rising maritime casualties could push global shipping costs higher, affecting Australian export prices and import costs for goods crossing major ocean routes.
Key facts
- At least 38 since June
- Sailors killed
- More than 500 in the past year
- Ships struck
- 11 crew still unaccounted for
- HS Dignity crew missing
- Shift to sinking ships deliberately
- Attack escalation
- The Black Sea has become the world's deadliest waterway, with at least 38 sailors killed since June.
- Russia and Ukraine target each other's merchant traffic with drones.
- More than 500 ships have been hit in the past year.
- Attacks have escalated from disabling ships to sinking them deliberately, a tactic called 'double tap'.
- Two cargo ships were struck in October: the Chelsea 3, which was hit by a drone, and the HS Dignity, which sank with 11 crew still missing.
- Bulgarian border police are undertaking increasingly dangerous rescue missions in stormy conditions.
