Operation to Tow Tanker 'Kairos' Stranded Off Bulgarian Black Sea Coast Will Begin on Friday.

The tanker Kairos, which ran aground near the coast of Ahtopol, was left adrift after the Turkish tugboat towing it abandoned the operation due to bad weather, the Maritime Administration said on December 11.

The vessel has been monitored by Bulgarian border authorities and the Navy. At present, there are no reports of ships entering Bulgarian territorial waters that would require further intervention, said Ventsislav Ivanov, Executive director of the Maritime Administration.

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

Ivanov explained that the tug towing Kairos stopped its operation after it considered the situation unsafe and left the site. The captain of the Turkish tugboat likely did not speak English and could not establish contact with Bulgarian authorities. The tanker was monitored only “as a marker” by the Border Police due to the absence of power and the malfunctioning of its systems, Ivanov added.

He said the aim was not to leave Kairos stranded near the Bulgarian coast, but to keep it as far offshore as possible while the owner arranged for it to be towed for repairs.

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

The operation to tow the tanker into the Burgas Bay will begin tomorrow, involving three tugboats. The Maritime Administration explained that an industrial generator will be used to supply power to the ship’s hydraulics.

Ivanov noted that repairs cannot be carried out in Bulgarian waters; assistance can only be provided to allow the vessel to leave the Bulgarina section safely, as the tanker is sanctioned under European Commission regulations.

The ship Kairos is completely unable to generate its own electricity or operate any of its systems. Its engines are out of order, and water has entered the engine room, said Captain Zhivko Petrov, director of the Burgas Maritime Administration.

The tanker, owned by a Chinese company, ran aground near Ahtopol on 5 December. Several crew members have been evacuated so far.