The cargo vessel Eileen sank in the Black Sea on October 12, 2025, about 140 nautical miles east of Varna, after reporting flooding on board, Maritime.bg reports.
According to the distress message received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Varna, Eileen had a hull breach and was taking on water. The vessel had developed a list, and the crew was unable to control the flooding. MRCC Varna immediately launched a search and rescue operation. Rescue units from Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania were sent to the area.
The Turkish offshore supply vessel reached the scene first and located two liferafts with the entire 10-member Ukrainian crew of the Eileen on board. The seafarers were safely transferred to the Turkish vessel, where their health was checked and confirmed stable.
No injuries or pollution were reported.
At the time of the sinking, the Eileen was sailing from Bartin, Turkey, to Ukraine. The cause of the sinking is under investigation.
The Eileen, built in 1993 and operated by a shipping company based in Odesa, Ukraine, had a record of repeated safety issues. Earlier in 2025, the vessel was detained three times due to multiple deficiencies, including structural and operational non-compliance under the Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding (BSMoU). The ship’s most recent inspection took place in Izmail, Ukraine, where five deficiencies were identified.
Photo: Maritime.bg
