ED Shipping Idles 19 of 26 Vessels as Black Sea Drone Attacks Surge

ED Shipping has taken 19 of its 26 vessels out of service, a decision driven by a surge in drone attacks on the Black Sea. Demre İşcen, the company’s chief financial officer, stated that the idling is causing the firm to lose millions of dollars each month. The move reflects a wider pause in traffic through one of the world's key shipping corridors as conflict between Russia and Ukraine expands onto the water.

Maritime risk firm Ambrey has recorded more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this year. In October alone, the firm attributes 40 of 45 attacks to Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defence acknowledged striking dozens of ships this month, claiming the targets supported Ukraine's military. NATO has responded by increasing maritime security measures, including the deployment of additional patrol boats and radar systems.

The human cost of the escalation is mounting. At least 31 seafarers have been killed or are missing in recent incidents. Many of the strikes have occurred in the western Black Sea, near the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, a search operation was underway for the crew of a Comoros-flagged ship hit by drones just outside Romanian waters. One body has been recovered from that incident, while three crew members remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the attack.

The attack on the cargo ship HS Dignity on Oct. 13 illustrates the intensity of the danger. Chief officer Ashraf Mamdouh, 42, described how the crew abandoned the sinking vessel after a sea drone struck the hull. A boat that appeared to be a rescue craft turned out to be part of the attacking group. The ship was hit again before lifeboats could be fully launched. Mamdouh survived in a life raft for four hours before being rescued by another vessel. Five crew members survived, while 11 are missing, including 18-year-old Syrian seafarer Hamza Suleiman.

Suleiman’s father, Basel, recalled a phone call his son made on Oct. 12, noting that the young man had grown fearful after the Alfa Watan was hit on Oct. 6. Ten crew members from that ship, mostly Syrian, have not been recovered. Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., said he has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed in recent attacks. He noted that economic necessity often drives workers to take these risky jobs.

The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea. ED Shipping’s own vessel, the Circon, was hit on June 5 in the Sea of Azov, killing two crew members. Ukraine stated that the targeted ships carried stolen Ukrainian grain, military cargo, or fuel, a claim İşcen disputes. Survivors of the HS Dignity are currently waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to travel home.

Mamdouh said he will not return to the Black Sea. The remaining survivors are processing paperwork to depart the region, while the broader shipping industry continues to assess the safety of the route. The number of idled vessels and the frequency of attacks remain the primary factors influencing company decisions in the coming months.