Transport Ministry Coordinates Rescue Operation for Vessel off Ahtopol

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is coordinating a rescue operation involving a vessel near the town of Ahtopol, the Ministery announced on December 5. The Executive Agency “Maritime Administration”, together with the General Directorate “Border Police” and the Bulgarian Navy, is conducting an operation to assist a vessel that has entered the territorial waters of the Republic of Bulgaria. The ship is one of two vessels struck by drones in the Black Sea two days ago.

• A ship is stranded at sea off Ahtopol

Earlier in the day, maritime surveillance and control services detected that a vessel had entered Bulgarian territorial waters but was not responding to attempts to establish contact. After notifying passing ships and seeking information from the Maritime Coordination Centre in Ankara, it was confirmed at around 13:50 that the vessel was the motor ship Kairos, carrying 10 people on board. In the early afternoon, the crew submitted a request for evacuation, after which a Border Police patrol boat and a Navy helicopter were dispatched under the coordination of the Emergency and Rescue Directorate of the Maritime Administration.

At 16:35 the vessel dropped anchor approximately one nautical mile east of Ahtopol and has since remained stationary. This was confirmed by video footage provided by the Navy helicopter. The vessel is under constant monitoring due to the heavy seas in the area, where waves are reaching four on the Beaufort scale.

A Border Police patrol boat is on standby, equipped with a specialised team ready to reach the vessel. Two tugboats are also fully prepared to join the operation.

Rescue services continue efforts to provide assistance and secure the situation. Adverse weather conditions in the area are significantly hindering manoeuvres and rescue activities.

Further information will be released as the situation develops.