The Black Sea is now the most deadly sea route for seafarers in 2026. This is what the British newspaper Financial Times (FT) reported on 25 October 2026. Its figures come from counts by the maritime security company Ambrey and by the IMO.
According to these counts, more than 570 ships were attacked in the Black Sea this year. At least 40 seafarers were killed. In the Strait of Hormuz, 24 seafarers were killed in the same period. The figures were reported by the Korean news agency Yonhap and the newspaper Chosun Ilbo, which quoted the FT.
Attacks grew fast this summer
The reports say about 387 ships were attacked in the third quarter of 2026, from July to September. This is more than five times the number in the quarter before. It means more than four ships were attacked on an average day.
Both Russia and Ukraine are attacking ships. Ukraine attacks ships that carry Russian fuel, and it has also hit ships near the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov. Russia attacks ships that sail to and from Ukrainian ports. According to Yonhap, Ambrey says about 90% of the attacks on ships in the last 45 days came from Russia.
The attacks now also happen close to Romania, a NATO member. On 15 October, drones hit the chemical tanker Wine Trader off the Romanian coast, and seven of its 12 crew went missing. On 23 October, the ship Khoryv sank 13 nautical miles off Constanța after a drone hit. One seafarer died and three are still missing. Read our report on the Khoryv.
Bridget Diaconu, head of research at the shipping data company Lloyd's List Intelligence, told the FT she has never seen a situation like this. Oleh Hryhoriuk, who leads a Ukrainian seafarers' union, was quoted as saying that calling at Ukrainian ports is now almost like suicide, Yonhap reported.
The whole Black Sea is now a war-risk area
On 16 September 2026, the Joint War Committee of London insurers made the whole Black Sea a "listed area". A listed area is a sea area with a high war risk, where ships need extra war insurance. Before, the area covered only the waters off Russia and Ukraine. The territorial waters of Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria and Georgia are not part of the listed area.
Ambrey says this does not mean those coastal waters are safe. Its analysis of the new listed area says the coasts of Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye have the most finds of unexploded ordnance (UXO). UXO means bombs, drones or mines that did not explode. Ambrey also says at least one tanker was hit about 11.6 nautical miles north of the Bosphorus.
What it means for crews
Before you sign on, ask where the ship will trade. Ask if it will call at Ukrainian or Russian ports or sail in the Black Sea.
Ask your company or manning agency about the security plan for the Black Sea. Ask if there is extra war-risk pay and insurance for the crew.
On board, take part in all security and abandon-ship drills. Know your muster station and keep your lifejacket and immersion suit ready.
Keep a good lookout for drones, small boats and floating objects. Report anything strange to the bridge at once.
Never touch a floating object that could be a mine or drone. Report its position to the coastal authority. Near Romania, this is MRCC Constanța on VHF channel 16.
Keep your family's contact details and your documents up to date with your company and manning agency.
Cover photo: The hopper ship Bagermejster Zvekov, a ship that carries dredged sand and mud, near the port of Odesa, Ukraine, in August 2010. This ship is not linked to the attacks in this story. Illustrative photo. Photo: George Chernilevsky/Wikimedia Commons, public domain (cropped).
Sources: Financial Times: The Black Sea is now the world's deadliest shipping route (25 Oct 2026), Yonhap: Black Sea more dangerous than Hormuz, the world's deadliest sea route (25 Oct 2026, in Korean), Chosun Biz: Black Sea ship attacks surge, kill 40 and outpace Hormuz toll (25 Oct 2026), Chosun Ilbo: Black Sea surpasses Hormuz as deadliest maritime route (25 Oct 2026), Ambrey: JWLA-035, why the whole Black Sea is now a listed area (23 Sep 2026).
