The Gambian-flagged oil tanker Kairos was rescued by Bulgarian maritime services, according to Rumen Nikolov, head of the General Directorate for Emergency and Rescue Activities at the Executive Agency Maritime Administration (EAMA), on Saturday.
The Bulgarian state news agency, citing Nikolov, said authorities reported that 10 people of different nationalities remained on board in good condition, with food and water for about three days. The captain and officers were no longer present.
The tanker is currently anchored within Bulgarian territorial waters, about one mile from the coast. It requested help Friday night, and there was a danger of drowning due to the damages in last week's attack by a naval drone and severe weather conditions, he said.
Nikolov said immediate measures were taken, with the border police, navy, and EAMA coordinating the operation after contact was made with the crew via Varna Radio and the Varna Coordination Center.
The vessel, currently holding steady with a lowered anchor about 700-800 meters off the coast near Ahtopol, is considered stable despite poor weather conditions -- winds over 15 meters per second and 4-5 Beaufort waves, posing no immediate threat to the crew or the environment, he said.
Nikolov noted that once the weather permits, the ship will likely be towed to a safe location, such as the Bay of Burgas, pending a formal decision by the Council of Ministers to authorize the operation.
He also mentioned that a caller identifying themselves as a representative of a Chinese company contacted the Coordination Center. The tanker is said to be owned by a Chinese entity, though no direct contact with the owner has been established.
Nikolov declined to comment on speculation that the vessel belongs to the Russian "shadow fleet," emphasizing that the ship was in distress, visibly damaged and smoking, and required humanitarian assistance.
Built in 2002, the Kairos is under the EU, UK, and Canadian sanctions. It was en route to Novorossiysk in Russia when struck by suspected Ukrainian naval drones on Nov. 28.
By Elena Teslova in Moscow
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
