Tanker Kairos drifts for fifth day off Bulgarian coast after drone strike

The tanker Kairos has been drifting near the Bulgarian coastal town of Ahtopol for the fifth day, still awaiting towing after being damaged in a drone attack near the Bosporus. The timeline for launching an operation to remove the vessel from the area remains unclear.

According to BNT Novini, Bulgarian authorities intend to deploy a Border Police vessel for an initial, comprehensive inspection of Kairos once weather conditions improve. The assessment will examine the ship’s technical condition, the state of its cargo, and any potential risks it may pose to the Black Sea environment.

Out of the ten crew members on board, six were evacuated by helicopter during an air operation that unfolded over the past two days. The remaining sailors continue to stay aboard the damaged ship.

In response to the incident, the Bulgarian government summoned the Turkish ambassador, seeking clarification about the circumstances under which the tanker was left adrift and the threat it poses to Bulgaria’s territorial waters. Officials in Sofia stressed that the situation raises serious concerns related to maritime safety and environmental protection.

The 274-meter Kairos, sailing under the Gambian flag, caught fire on November 28 after being struck — allegedly by Ukrainian naval drones — off the Turkish coast in the Black Sea. At the time, the vessel was empty and travelling from Egypt to the port of Novorossiysk. Following the attack, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Kairos and another Gambian-flagged tanker, Virat, had been hit by controlled unmanned maritime boats.

A separate incident occurred on December 1, when four explosions took place near the tanker Mersin as it lay at anchor off the coast of Senegal. The blasts caused water to enter the ship’s engine room, though all crew members remained unharmed.

By Tamilla Hasanova