Black Sea now the world's most dangerous shipping route amid war in Ukraine, FT reports

In brief

• The Financial Times reports the Black Sea has become the deadliest shipping route in the world in 2026.
• More than 570 vessels were hit and at least 40 sailors killed in the Black Sea this year, versus 24 deaths in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Attacks peaked in the summer, with about 387 vessels hit between July and September.
• Turkey's defence minister warned Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks on commercial ships.

Deaths outpace the Persian Gulf

The Black Sea has become the deadliest shipping route in the world this year, the Financial Times reported, with more seafarers killed there than in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, areas long regarded as among the riskiest for shipping (Чорне море стало «маршрутом смерті», небезпечнішим за Перську затоку - FT – TSN). Marine security firm Ambrey and the International Maritime Organization counted more than 570 vessels hit in the Black Sea since the start of the year, leaving at least 40 sailors dead. In the Strait of Hormuz, 24 deaths have been confirmed (Туреччина попередила Україну та Росію через атаки на судна в Чорному морі – Espreso) (Чорне море стало найнебезпечнішою акваторією світу: кількість атак перевищила показники Перської затоки – Espreso) (Черное море стало самым опасным судоходным маршрутом в мире — FT – NV).

Attacks intensify over the summer

The pace of attacks rose most sharply in the summer. Ambrey data cited by the paper show about 387 vessels were struck between July and September, roughly five times the previous quarter, with more than four attacks a day on average in the third quarter. Ships have been hit by drones, missiles and explosive-laden boats, and some were caught in crossfire during strikes on ports.

Attacks near NATO waters

Some of the strikes have occurred close to NATO borders. On 15 October, drones attacked the chemical tanker Wine Trader while it was anchored off the Romanian coast, and another tanker was hit the same night near the entrance to the Sulina canal. Since early October, attacks on civilian vessels near Romania and Bulgaria have intensified, according to NV's analysis (Больше погибших, чем в Ормузе. Как Россия превратила Черное море в самый опасный морской маршрут в мире — инфографика NV – NV).

Crews afraid, companies pull back

Shipping representatives describe the risk in stark terms. Oleg Hryhoriuk, head of the Ukrainian maritime transport workers' union, told the FT that sailing to Ukrainian ports feels close to suicide. Ukraine's agriculture minister, Taras Vysotskyi, said crews are genuinely afraid to work in these conditions. Analysts at Lloyd's List Intelligence say more companies are reluctant to send ships into the sea, which makes shipping more dangerous and cuts potential profits.

Turkey warns both sides

Turkey's defence minister, Yaşar Güler, said after a regional security meeting in Sofia that Ankara is watching the intensifying attacks with concern (Туреччина зробила жорстке попередження Україні та РФ про атаки у Чорному морі – UNIAN). He said Turkey expects replies from Kyiv and Moscow to its proposal to halt strikes on ships and secure safe grain transport, and reserved the right to take legal steps over attacks on Turkish-flagged or Turkish-owned vessels. Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria also agreed to strengthen protection of critical undersea infrastructure while jointly clearing mines from the sea.