First Inspection of the Tanker 'Kairos' Stranded Off the Coast of Ahtopol, No Oil Pollution Detected in the Sea

The first inspection by the competent authorities has begun on the tanker Kairos, which has been anchored in Bulgarian waters for a sixth consecutive day after being left off Ahtopol by a Turkish tugboat. How is the inspection proceeding?

Stranded for a Fifth Day: Tanker 'Kairos' Still off the Coast of Ahtopol

Earlier today, December 10, inspectors from the Ministry of Interior and the Maritime Administration boarded the vessel with a Border Police cutter and the assistance of a small boat. Their primary task is to carry out the initial onboard inspection — to verify whether the tanker is indeed empty, as claimed by the crew, and to determine whether the systems controlling the anchor mechanism are operational. This will allow an operation to refloat or remove the vessel to be planned in the coming days or weeks.

Several of the evacuated sailors are currently on board to assist with the inspection. There is also a pending request for them to be rotated with members of the crew who remained on the vessel.

The results of the emergency monitoring of seawater near Ahtopol show no presence of petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, styrene or fats. All measured values are below the detection limits of the testing methods, the Ministry of Environment and Water reported.

The Black Sea Basin Directorate in Varna collected samples between Sozopol and Rezovo to assess the condition of the seawater. The Ministry continues to monitor for potential pollution in the Black Sea following recent attacks on commercial vessels.

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