Greece alerts shipping fleet after Black Sea drone attacks

Key facts

• Greece issued an advisory to commercial shipping after a series of Black Sea drone attacks.
• Guidance urges route reassessment, enhanced lookouts, and coordination with insurers and authorities.
• Warning highlights risks to insurance, cargo flows and wider European maritime trade.

Greece’s maritime authorities have issued warnings to commercial shipping operators about heightened risks in the Black Sea following a series of drone strikes that have recently targeted vessels and infrastructure in the conflict zone. The advisory urges shipowners, insurers and masters to reassess routing, enhance lookouts, adopt defensive procedures and consider avoidance of high-risk areas. Athens said the risk stems from indiscriminate or misdirected attacks and the possibility of increased drone use by state and non-state actors. The notice highlights implications for maritime insurance premiums, cargo continuity and regional trade links, and calls for stronger information-sharing among EU, NATO and commercial maritime actors.

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Greece has issued a maritime advisory warning commercial shipping of heightened risks in the Black Sea after a series of drone attacks struck vessels and maritime infrastructure in the region. The notice, circulated to shipowners, masters and insurers, recommends that operators reassess voyage planning, boost lookout and reporting measures, and consider avoiding high-risk zones. Athens framed the danger as stemming from both deliberate targeting and the potential for misdirected, indiscriminate strikes as drone use rises among state and non-state actors. The advisory signals concern about knock-on effects: rising insurance premiums, disrupted cargo flows, and reputational and legal exposure for shipowners whose vessels operate near a conflict zone. European maritime authorities and NATO partners are watching for spillover risks that could affect neutral shipping and trade corridors. Greece urged closer information-sharing between coastal agencies, classification societies and insurers, and stressed adherence to official guidance rather than ad-hoc defensive measures that could escalate incidents. For commercial operators, practical steps include updated risk assessments, tightened bridge procedures, managed AIS and communications, and liaison with underwriters and flag states. The advisory underscores the strategic challenge for Europe: how to keep merchant shipping safe while avoiding escalation or legal ambiguity as drone threats migrate beyond active battlefields.

Source: Reuters