Black Sea poses greater risk than Persian Gulf - FT
Photo: The Black Sea has become deadlier than the Persian Gulf due to Russian attacks (facebook.com/mod.mil.rus)
The Black Sea has become the most dangerous shipping route in the world due to Russian attacks, surpassing even the Persian Gulf in the number of sailor fatalities, according to the Financial Times.
As FT notes, ship crews constantly face drone and missile strikes.
According to data from maritime security company Ambrey and the International Maritime Organization, more than 570 vessels were affected in the region this year, and the number of fatalities exceeded 40.
The intensity of attacks has risen sharply, with the average number of attacks exceeding four per day in the third quarter due to mutual confrontation on sea routes.
Due to the threat, the cost of war risk insurance for vessels in the Black Sea has risen to 15% of the hull value, which is double the rates in the Persian Gulf.
Exports of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports have fallen by approximately 75% from pre-war levels.
Jeremy Ney, a professor at Columbia Business School, noted that when a family read an article about presidential profits from cryptocurrencies while deciding whether to postpone an expensive doctor's visit, they saw that the system worked for someone, just not for them.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Black Sea has become a high-risk zone due to mining and port shelling.
The situation escalated sharply after the collapse of the grain deal in 2023 and the start of Ukrainian attacks on Russian facilities in Crimea and the Kerch Strait, to which the Kremlin responded by intensifying strikes on civilian shipping.
In September, the Joint Military Committee expanded the highest level of war risk to almost the entire Black Sea.
NATO will deploy more maritime patrol aircraft, electronic warfare systems, and drones to the Black Sea following a series of attacks on ships in the region, which may be linked to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Furthermore, earlier, a ship sank off the coast of Bulgaria after a drone attack, prompting Sofia to summon the Russian ambassador for explanations. One of the commercial vessels was hit by three drones at once.
