The container ship CONTSHIP JET, which sank after a drone attack, is not posing a pollution risk to the sea or coast for now, according to an assessment by the Bulgarian Maritime Administration. Its teams inspected the vessel and reported to Varna regional governor Mario Smarkov, the Varna Regional Administration said.
Three naval drones hit the ship around noon on Wednesday, near Bulgaria's territorial waters, and it sank shortly after. It is the latest merchant ship hit by naval drones in the area.
What happened before: Sea water tested at five points after strike on ship off Kaliakra
The ship was carrying light gas oil, which evaporates fairly fast when spilled, the Maritime Administration said. Experts do not expect the fuel to reach the Bulgarian coast, or to cause major harm to the sea and shoreline.
The ship had 421 containers on board with various fuels and other hazardous cargo. Twenty fell into the sea, navy commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov said last night.
The crew of 18 sailors, 14 Filipinos and 4 Ukrainians, were rescued and taken to Varna.
The regional administration is monitoring the situation with state bodies, which are in constant contact. Today, experts are taking seawater samples at five places along the Black Sea coast to check for pollution. The sites are Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol.