Sofia questions Ankara over stranded Kairos oil tanker

Sofia has sought clarification from Ankara over the tanker Kairos, which was left drifting off the Bulgarian coast, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a meeting initiated by the Bulgarian side, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Grozdan Karadzhov met with Turkey’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Mehmet Uyanık. The discussion focused on the circumstances surrounding the tanker, which had anchored near the town of Ahtopol.

Mr Karadzhov provided detailed information on the movements of the tanker, noting that it had been towed from Turkish into Bulgarian territorial waters. Data reportedly shows that the vessel approached the Bulgarian coast and was abandoned six nautical miles offshore.

Ambassador Uyanık said that Turkish authorities are already investigating the incident. He added that the actions in question were carried out by a private company and that the Turkish government had not been informed of them in advance.

The Kairos has been blocked near Ahtopol for four days, reportedly after being struck by Ukrainian drones near the Bosphorus. It was then towed by a Turkish tugboat into Bulgarian waters, where it was left. Part of the ten-member crew has been evacuated by Bulgarian authorities, while the remaining three were provided with food and water.

Sampling of seawater between Sozopol and Rezovo is ongoing to monitor for potential pollution. So far, routine water monitoring has shown no deviations from normal levels.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova