Container ship RMS Team abandoned after drone attack in the Black Sea

A container ship, the RMS Team, was severely damaged following a drone attack in the Black Sea on August 22, 2026. The vessel, which departed from Gemlik, Turkey, on August 12, was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it was struck. The impact caused a fire in the engine room and living quarters, which subsequently spread to the cargo containers, rendering the situation uncontrollable.

All 12 crew members were forced to abandon the ship. While 11 sailors have been successfully rescued, one crew member remains missing, and search operations are currently ongoing. The operator, Akkon Lines, has officially declared the 2004-built, 12,900 dwt vessel and its cargo a constructive total loss, noting that the extent of the damage makes repairs financially unviable. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing regional maritime tensions, as attacks increasingly target commercial container vessels rather than just tankers or port infrastructure.