Syria calls for independent investigation into Black Sea ship sinking

Syria has called on the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the sinking of the cargo ship Alfa Watan in the Black Sea. Reuters reported the appeal, citing Syria’s state news agency, BNR Horizont reported.

The ship’s ten crew members, nine of them Syrian nationals, remain missing. The Togolese-flagged vessel was attacked in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on the night of Monday into Tuesday and subsequently sank. The authorities have called off the search operation.

Bulgaria calls off search for crew of sunken cargo ship Alfa Watan

Drones hit two ships 80 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast

The investigation should examine why search and rescue operations were halted before the fate of the missing crew had been established, said Mazen Alloush, director of international relations at Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs.

Bulgaria seeks assistance to inspect sunken ship with underwater drone

No drone debris found at site of sunken ship in Black Sea

English: R. Petkova