Syria calls for independent international investigation into sinking of “Alpha Vaton” in Black Sea

The Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs today called on the International Maritime Organization and the relevant authorities in Bulgaria to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on and sinking of the cargo ship “Alpha Vaton” in the Black Sea, and to determine the party responsible for the incident.

Mazen Alloush, Director of the Authority’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said that the vessel was attacked at dawn on Tuesday, October 6, while it was in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. He noted that preliminary information indicated that ten sailors were aboard, including nine Syrians and one Egyptian, and that information regarding their fate remains unavailable.

The Authority called for clarification regarding the reasons for halting search and rescue operations before determining the fate of the crew members. It also called for examining available technical means to reach and inspect the wreckage, and for continuing international efforts to determine the fate of the sailors and provide their families with the available information.

The Authority stressed the importance of protecting commercial vessels and their crews and strengthening maritime security measures in the Black Sea, noting that it continues to follow up on the case in coordination with the relevant official, diplomatic, and maritime authorities.

Bulgaria had earlier announced that two commercial vessels had been attacked by drones in its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. It said that one of them was the “Alpha Vaton,” which flies the Togolese flag, while the second was the “Ebel,” registered in Palau.

ANHA