Towing operation launched to remove Russian tanker from Ahtopol shore PHOTO

The operation to refloat and tow the tanker Kairos from the shore of Ahtopol commenced today, after the vessel had been stranded at the location for more than a week.

A fishing vessel from Burgas delivered a 5-ton emergency marine generator to power the tanker’s systems in preparation for the operation. A specialized team of electricians and mechanics restored the hydraulic system and the port anchor, while a technical crew boarded the vessel to oversee the preparations, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Three tugboats traveled overnight to Ahtopol to carry out the tow, with the goal of moving the tanker to a secure location in Burgas Bay.

About 120 metres of cable were laid to restore the tanker’s generator and hydraulic system, allowing the left anchor to be made operational as a spare while the right anchor was readied for lifting. Additionally, attachment points for ropes and steel wires from the tugs were secured. After the day’s work, the teams were pulled ashore due to intermittent power on board.

The operation is being conducted under the constant oversight of the Maritime Administration Agency, following all safety and environmental protection protocols.

The tanker had been anchored off the Ahtopol lighthouse for six days without proper inspection. The 276-meter Kairos, part of the Russian fleet, appeared near the Bulgarian coast on December 5 after being hit in Turkish waters by a Ukrainian naval drone while en route to Novorossiysk. It was then towed by the Turkish tugboat Timur Bey, which maneuvered the ship erratically, turned off its GPS, and left it in Bulgarian waters before returning to the port of Igeada. Inquiries by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport to the Coordination Center in Ankara were met with the reply that the tugboat had completed its task and was returning to Igeada.

By Vafa Guliyeva