All 18 crew were rescued after marine drones struck Contship Jet off Bulgaria on October 28. The damaged containership and reported drifting dangerous-goods containers created a navigation hazard near Cape Kaliakra.
1. Contship Jet attacked near Cape Kaliakra
• Liberia-flagged Contship Jet, IMO 9348625, was struck approximately 17 nautical miles east of Cape Kaliakra. Bulgaria’s transport ministry recorded the initial report at 12:01 local time on October 28.
• The vessel was sailing from Haifa to Constanta, carrying 421 containers, according to the crew’s account relayed by the ministry.
• The crew abandoned ship at 12:13. Bulgarian naval and border-police vessels responded, and all 18 seafarers were rescued and transferred toward Varna.
• Bulgaria’s naval chief described three port-side breaches in an interview with BNT. The vessel remained afloat and drifting that evening; responsibility for the attack had not been established.
• NAVWARN 761/26 reported more than 20 drifting containers, including dangerous goods, near 43°15.20′N, 028°48.50′E at 1200 UTC.
• Charterer ZIM confirmed the attack and evacuation. It said the condition of the vessel and cargo was being assessed and affected customers were being contacted.
2. Cyclone disrupts Visakhapatnam operations
• Visakhapatnam suspended inward vessel movements and cargo operations because of Cyclone Arnab.
• Vessels in the outer harbour were moved to anchorage, its source said. Berthing delays were expected to affect cargo handling and bunkering.
• IMD’s 03:55 IST October 29 bulletin reported that Arnab had weakened into a deep depression. North Andhra coastal conditions still included 25–30-knot winds, gusting to 40 knots, and rough to very rough seas.
• Warning signals at Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada were reduced to Local Cautionary III. This weather downgrade did not establish that suspended port operations had resumed.
3. Gulf advisory specifies transit documentation
• An October 28 JMIC update relaying NAVCENT guidance said neutral vessels between neutral ports in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz could face questioning, visits and searches during blockade enforcement.
• The guidance covers laden vessels carrying neutral cargo and vessels in ballast, irrespective of flag or ownership.
• Documents requested include last-port clearance, bills of lading where applicable, registry certificates, next-port agent appointment letters, relevant supply or service records and berth confirmations. The reproduced advisory specifies signed or stamped PDFs; an email alone does not replace the agent’s appointment letter.
• The update identifies additional transit time associated with traffic density and enforcement operations. It is an operational advisory concerning an existing blockade, rather than an announcement that a new blockade began on October 28.
4. Suspected pirate activity reported in Gulf of Aden
• UKMTO Advisory 184-26 records suspicious activity in the Gulf of Aden at 1030 UTC on October 28, citing military authorities.
• Several reports described small craft operating near merchant vessels, potentially indicating a pirate action group.
• One account described a green-and-blue boat with nine people, two ladders and one hook.
• Authorities were investigating. The advisory did not identify a boarded merchant vessel or confirm a successful attack.
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Sources
Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, ZIM, UKMTO/JMIC reporting, India Meteorological Department, ENGINE
Contship Jet, Black Sea, Bulgaria, Maritime Security, Container Shipping, Drone Attack, Navigation Safety
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