Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) announced late Friday that a drone strike targeting a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Black Sea left one crew member dead and two others wounded, with one of the injured sailors reported to be in serious condition.
According to the AMP, the attack took place on Thursday. Despite the violence, the vessel was able to remain operational and continue along its planned route.
In a statement, the authority said it has “activated the relevant protocols to gather official information on the incident and maintains communication with the parties involved.”
The AMP did not identify the origin of the drone strike. However, the agency issued a warning advising all ships to avoid navigating through waters belonging to Ukraine and Russia in both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, located to the north.
Panama oversees the largest ship registry in the world, with approximately 16% of all merchant vessels worldwide sailing under its flag.
