The Ministry of Internal Affairs provided explanations on Friday evening after the incident in the Port of Constanța, where a Ukrainian maritime drone that had gone out of control self-detonated without causing any casualties. The MAI claims that the Integrated Maritime Surveillance System (SCOMAR) is not designed to detect such targets and operates within the parameters for which it was designed.
The clarifications come after questions arose in the public space regarding the Romanian authorities’ ability to identify and monitor the drone that reached the port area.
According to the MAI, SCOMAR is an integrated maritime surveillance system used by the Coast Guard for maritime border control, naval traffic monitoring, combating illegal migration, and cross-border criminality.
"SCOMAR is an integrated maritime surveillance system, not a single radar and not an anti-drone military system," the ministry stated.
The system is designed for ships and vessels
MAI representatives explained that the system has been optimized for detecting and monitoring vessels and ships of interest, especially those with lengths greater than six meters.
On the other hand, the drone involved in the incident in Constanța reportedly has technical characteristics that make it difficult to detect with maritime surveillance equipment.
"The unmanned maritime drone identified in the port has specific characteristics of a small-sized platform, very low detection profile, and reduced radar footprint, different from the profile of vessels and ships for which the system is optimized," the MAI specified.
The Ministry emphasizes that the incident concerns "a different technical category of targets" compared to those for which SCOMAR was designed and operationally configured.
MAI calls for avoiding hasty conclusions
The institution states that the assessment of the incident must be carried out at the level of the entire maritime security mechanism, which includes surveillance, detection, alerting, naval traffic management, port security, and inter-institutional cooperation.
"Personalizing responsibility or selectively attributing conclusions before institutional evaluations are finalized can create public confusion and does not contribute to strengthening the state's response," the ministry conveyed.
The MAI asserts that the Coast Guard continues to cooperate with all institutions involved in maritime safety and security, and that the incident analysis is ongoing.
Four drones exploded in the Black Sea
Four Ukrainian maritime drones escaped control on Friday, most likely due to electronic interference. Two self-detonated in Ukrainian waters, one exploded in the Port of Constanța, and the fourth was detonated under Coast Guard surveillance outside the port area.
Defense Minister Radu Miruță stated that the Romanian authorities were informed by the Ukrainian side before the drone's self-detonation and that there was no danger to the population.