Tugboat Astana Sinks Off Romanian Coast, Search for Missing Crew Continues

A Romanian tugboat, the Astana, sank on March 18, 2026, approximately 8 kilometers off the coast of Midia Port, Romania, while assisting the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Amadeus during mooring operations. The incident has resulted in one confirmed fatality and four crew members remaining missing as of March 21, 2026.

Incident Details

According to Romania’s naval authorities, the Astana capsized while assisting the Amadeus at the Monbuoy terminal. Emergency teams, divers and specialized services were dispatched to the scene following the alert. One crew member was recovered but could not be resuscitated. Search operations for the remaining four crew members were ongoing as of March 21, but were temporarily suspended due to unfavorable weather conditions, with a potential resumption dependent on improved weather informat.ro.

Vessel Information

The Astana is a Romanian-flagged tugboat built in 2006. It has a length of 26.09 meters, a width of 7.94 meters, and a maximum draft of 3.85 meters. The vessel is powered by a 2,610 kW (3,500 hp) engine report.az.

Investigation Launched

An investigation, coordinated by the prosecutor’s office, has been launched to determine the causes and circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Astana report.az.

Company Cooperation

Midia Marine Terminal has pledged full transparency and cooperation with authorities during the investigation. The company stated that the Astana was authorized for all operations at the offshore terminal and had a history of successfully assisting large-tonnage oil tankers. The vessel underwent recent recertification and overhaul procedures, including inspections by Bureau Veritas in January 2026 and the Romanian Naval Authority in September 2025 agerpres.ro.

Captain Identified

One of the deceased crew members has been identified as Sorin Tufan, the captain of the Astana. Tufan was a former footballer who had transitioned to a career as a sailor, following in the footsteps of his father, Marin Tufan informat.ro.