A crew member has been killed and two others injured after a Panama-flagged vessel was struck by a drone attack in the Black Sea, according to Xinhua citing the Panama Maritime Authority on Friday.
The authority said one of the injured crew members is in critical condition, based on preliminary information regarding the incident which occurred on Thursday.
In a statement, the maritime authority said it has activated relevant protocols to obtain official details of the attack while maintaining contact with involved parties and competent authorities to verify the circumstances and assess the condition of the crew.
Despite the attack, the vessel was able to continue its voyage, officials confirmed. Panama authorities have advised all ships under its flag to take necessary safety precautions and, where possible, avoid transiting through Ukrainian and Russian waters in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
Panama, one of the world’s largest ship registries, has previously reported similar incidents, including another drone attack involving a Panama-flagged vessel in the Black Sea in January.
