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

For a fifth day, the tanker Kairos remains stranded off the coast of Ahtopol. So far, seven of the vessel’s ten crew members have been airlifted to safety. The rescue operation was carried out by the Navy using a Panther helicopter.

Air Evacuation: Three Crew Members Remain Aboard the Stranded Tanker 'Kairos' Off the Coast of Ahtopol

The Navy’s Panther helicopter responded immediately to the distress call from sailors in the Ahtopol area. Rescuers were lowered by winch to the tanker’s deck. Three crew members were evacuated first, with a further four taken off the following day.

Captain Dimo Tyufekchiev, on-board rescue specialist at Chaika Air Base, said: “The sailors were in relatively good physical condition. None had serious injuries and they were alert. They were simply very frightened and followed all instructions so that the evacuation could be carried out safely, without complications or dangerous situations.”

The rescuer was lowered some 40 metres to the tanker’s deck. The ship itself was stable, but the rough sea posed a significant hazard.

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Captain Georgi Tonev, a pilot at Chaika Air Base, explained: “This makes the operation more difficult. There was also low cloud and a swell of around force 3 to 4. That caused the vessel to pitch and roll, but our colleagues are professionals and managed to handle it.”

Planning the rescue took little time, with the primary concern being the safety of the aircrews and the sailors.

Commander Second Rank Nikolay Kolev, head of the Naval Helicopter Air Base Chaika, said: “Our task was to ensure the delivery of food, medicines and communications equipment, as well as fuel and a generator to support the tanker’s crew.”

The crews at Chaika Air Base have extensive experience in handling such demanding missions.

Captain Dimo Tyufekchiev added: “We train for them constantly — day and night. There is no room for fear. For us, it’s a routine task.”

No financial estimate has yet been made for the cost of evacuating the sailors.

Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov, Commander of the Navy, noted: “When it comes to saving human life at sea, these actions are free of charge. No one pays to have their life saved.”

The Navy also clarified that since the beginning of the year it has destroyed two surface drones in the Black Sea area which had already been damaged, yet still posed a threat to commercial shipping.