A Cameroon-registered cargo vessel has gone down in the Black Sea, roughly 140 nautical miles east of Varna, Bulgaria, after suffering severe flooding on Sunday, October 12, 2025. All 10 Ukrainian seafarers aboard were rescued without serious injury following an international search and rescue effort.
According to regional maritime authorities, the general cargo ship Eileen began taking on water and developed a heavy list at approximately 13:00 local time. The crew managed to send a distress call before the vessel fully submerged beneath rough seas.
Responding to the alert, the Turkish platform supply vessel (PSV) Murat Ilhan diverted to the site of the last known position of Eileen and located the crew drifting in two liferafts. The survivors were taken aboard and later disembarked safely at Filyos Port in Turkey’s Zonguldak Province.
The coordinated emergency operation also involved assets from multiple nations, including a Bulgarian Navy vessel, a Bulgarian border patrol craft, a Romanian ship, and a Bulgarian Navy helicopter, all deployed to support the search.
No major injuries were reported among the rescued seafarers, all of whom underwent medical checks upon arrival.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the flooding that led to the loss of the vessel. Adverse weather conditions have not been ruled out as a contributing factor.
