Romanian president says LPG tanker Gas Lisbon hit off Black Sea coast, 17 crew rescued, three injured
The Liberian-flagged LPG carrier Gas Lisbon was struck overnight about 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast near Sfântu Gheorghe. All 17 crew members were evacuated, and three injured were taken to hospital.
Incident at sea
The Liberian-flagged LPG tanker Gas Lisbon was struck overnight on 21 July 2026, catching fire about 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast near Sfântu Gheorghe. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Constanța received distress signals via radio and the Cospas-Sarsat system at 00:05. The vessel, carrying over 3,790 tonnes of propane, had departed Alexandria, Egypt on 16 July and was bound for the Ukrainian port of Reni.
During the night, the LPG Gas Lisbon, under the Liberian flag, was hit outside Romania's territorial waters, approximately 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast.
Rescue operation
Romanian authorities immediately dispatched two rescue ships of the Romanian Agency for Saving Life at Sea (ARSVOM), SAR Apollo and SAR Artemis, to the scene. All 17 crew members evacuated the burning tanker using life rafts and were picked up by SAR Apollo. Three injured seafarers were rushed to Sulina port for emergency treatment. According to the Romanian Naval Authority, two victims had burns covering 10–15% of their bodies, while the third suffered multiple wounds and haemorrhage. A tugboat was also sent to prevent the stricken vessel from drifting and posing a further hazard to navigation.
- Gas Lisbon departs Alexandria, Egypt, with over 3,790 tonnes of propane, bound for Reni, Ukraine.
- Fire/explosion reported on board, about 20 nautical miles off Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania.
- Romanian rescue ships SAR Apollo and SAR Artemis evacuate all 17 crew members using life rafts.
- Three injured crew taken to Sulina port for medical care; two with burns, one with wounds and hemorrhage.
Cargo and route
The Gas Lisbon (IMO 9267974) is a 120-metre LPG carrier built in 2002 in Japan, with a capacity of over 8,000 cubic metres. AIS tracking data showed a draft of about 5.9 metres, indicating a loaded condition. The ship had regularly plied routes between Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea ports, with recent calls at Alexandria, Aspropyrgos, Baniyas, Burgas and Sulina. At least one previous Alexandria–Sulina voyage, in 2025, carried roughly 3,000 tonnes of Egyptian propane destined for customers in Ukraine.
Political reaction
President Nicușor Dan described the event as a 'grave incident' and directly linked it to the wider conflict in the region. State institutions remain on alert and are working to clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities.
State institutions are on alert and will clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities related to this grave incident, most likely part of the illegal war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Safety measures
Romanian authorities issued a navigational warning requiring all vessels to keep a minimum distance of three nautical miles from the burning tanker. The tugboat remained on station to ensure the Gas Lisbon did not drift into shipping lanes. The crew's swift evacuation and the coordinated response averted a larger environmental or navigational crisis in the busy Black Sea corridor.
