On 27 August 2026, a commercial vessel named 'PROGRESS IV', flagged in the Dominican Republic, caught fire in the Romanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Black Sea near Sfântu Gheorghe (approximately 15-20 nautical miles southeast). The ship's crew of 12 were successfully rescued; 10 by the Romanian Coast Guard and 2 by another commercial vessel in the area. One crew member was injured. The rescue operation was challenged by sea waves about 2.5 meters high. According to Mayor Nicușor Dan, the ship was struck and appears to have sunk, but details on the attacker or cause remain unknown. Romanian naval rescue and police vessels coordinated the salvage efforts. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Constanța received a COSPAS-SARSAT alert at about 17:55 UTC. The commercial ship MOHAMAD B was first dispatched and rescue ships ARSVOM, SAR ARES, SAR ARTEMIS, and police boat MAI 0201 were mobilized. The incident remains under investigation.

On 27 August 2026, a commercial vessel named 'PROGRESS IV', flagged in the Dominican Republic, caught fire in the Romanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Black Sea near Sfântu Gheorghe (approximately 15-20 nautical miles southeast). The ship's crew of 12 were successfully rescued; 10 by the Romanian Coast Guard and 2 by another commercial vessel in the area. One crew member was injured. The rescue operation was challenged by sea waves about 2.5 meters high. According to Mayor Nicușor Dan, the ship was struck and appears to have sunk, but details on the attacker or cause remain unknown. Romanian naval rescue and police vessels coordinated the salvage efforts. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Constanța received a COSPAS-SARSAT alert at about 17:55 UTC. The commercial ship MOHAMAD B was first dispatched and rescue ships ARSVOM, SAR ARES, SAR ARTEMIS, and police boat MAI 0201 were mobilized. The incident remains under investigation.