In brief
Gas Lisbon was hit by three drones overnight 20–21 July while carrying 3,790 tonnes of propane 20 nautical miles off Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania.
All 17 crew members were rescued; three were hospitalized with burns and fragmentation wounds. One, a 46-year-old Filipino, died on 23 July from pulmonary complications.
A thermal-imaging overflight on 22 July confirmed no open flames, but high temperatures persist, preventing safe access. A new aerial survey is scheduled for 23 July.
The firefighting vessel was not operational due to a lack of a qualified commander (requires 3 years’ experience). A commander was found weeks ago, and the ship had first sea trials last week. IGSU said direct intervention would have been too dangerous regardless.
- 20 JulGas Lisbon hit by three drones off Romanian coast, fire breaks out, crew flees to bow.
- 21 JulAll 17 crew rescued by ARSVOM; three injured taken to Tulcea hospital.
- 22 JulAerial survey shows no open flames; hull temperatures remain too high to board. IGU explains non-deployment of its vessels.
- 23 JulOne injured crew member dies at Tulcea hospital. New aerial survey planned for Thursday.
The attack
On the night of 20 to 21 July 2026, the Liberian-flagged LPG tanker Gas Lisbon was struck by three drones, according to crew accounts, while transiting Romania's exclusive economic zone about 20 nautical miles southeast of Sfântu Gheorghe. The vessel was carrying over 3,790 tonnes of propane from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian port of Reni. The explosions caused major structural damage and a fire that engulfed the superstructure. All 17 crew members fled to the bow and were subsequently evacuated by Romanian rescue teams.
Rescue and casualties
Three sailors were taken to the Tulcea County Emergency Hospital with second- and third-degree burns on the face and upper limbs, and multiple fragmentation injuries. One of them, a 46-year-old Filipino national, died on 23 July due to pulmonary complications and airway burns. The hospital manager, Tudor Năstăsescu, confirmed that the two remaining injured crew members are in stable condition and remain under observation. The other 14 mariners were accommodated in Sulina after the rescue.
- Uninjured
- 14
- Injured (hospitalised)
- 2
- Deceased
- 1
Data from the article text
Fire extinguished but hull remains too hot to board
By Wednesday 22 July, an aerial survey by a helicopter of the Interior Ministry’s General Aviation Inspectorate using thermal imaging found that the open flames had gone out, but temperatures in the damaged section remained high. In a statement, the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) said the vessel was still too dangerous to board.
“The fire is no longer visible with open flames, but high temperatures continue in the affected area. Access to the ship cannot be carried out safely at this moment.”
Authorities planned another overflight for Thursday 23 July, weather permitting, to reassess conditions and decide next steps.
Why IGSU’s multirole vessels were not deployed
The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) faced questions over its decision not to send its two purpose-built multirole vessels, a firefighting (FI-FI) ship and a search-and-rescue (SAR) unit, to the scene. IGSU explained that neither vessel was fully operational: the FI-FI ship lacked a qualified commander meeting legal requirements of at least three years’ experience as a second officer or maritime boat commander. Although graduates of the “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy had been hired over the past two years, they had not yet accumulated the required seniority. A suitable commander was found only weeks ago, and the FI-FI ship made its first test sailings last week.
Even had the ships been ready, IGSU stressed that a direct intervention would have been too risky.
“Such an intervention would not have been opportune or justified given the major risks, including explosions, that would endanger the lives of the rescue teams. The priority is always to protect the lives of our personnel.”
The authority added that there was no immediate threat to the population or evidence of marine pollution that would demand firefighting from Romanian forces.
Political reactions
President Nicușor Dan attributed the incident to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Romanian Naval Authority reassured that the coastline and population were not in danger. The Free Navigator Union claimed the tanker was hit by two rockets, but the crew themselves reported three drone impacts. The discrepancy has not been officially clarified.