Teams from Bulgaria’s Maritime Administration are launching an extraordinary inspection around the motor tanker Kairos after reports of possible marine pollution near Pomorie and the Sarafovo district of Burgas.
The Ministry of Transport said the operation was ordered following signals from citizens about possible contamination in the area surrounding the vessel, which has been anchored in Burgas Bay since it was rescued late last year.
According to the ministry, Maritime Administration teams have already carried out two inspections of the tanker’s hull and the surrounding waters. No leak from the vessel itself was detected during either inspection.
However, while patrolling an area within a radius of 1.5 nautical miles around the ship, inspectors found several isolated colored patches on the water. The affected areas were immediately treated using an approved dispersant to reduce any potential environmental impact.
Authorities will now conduct a broader control patrol covering the entire area around the Kairos to determine whether any products polluting the marine environment are present and to identify their source.
