There is no pollution from oil products due to the grounded tanker near Ahtopol, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) announced.
The results of the extraordinary monitoring of the sea waters near Ahtopol do not show the presence of oil products, poly-chlorobiphenyls, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, styrene and fats. All values are below the determination limits of the test methods, the ministry adds.
The MOEW initiated urgent monitoring of the sea waters due to the grounded tanker. Immediate actions were taken to dismiss suspicions of potential pollution of the Black Sea waters near Ahtopol. In this regard, the Basin Directorate “Black Sea Region” – Varna took samples between Sozopol and Rezovo to provide data on the state of the sea water, the Ministry of Environment also points out.
The MOEW adds that they continue to monitor for potential pollution in the Black Sea after the strikes on merchant ships.
BTA reminds that last Friday, the tanker “Kairos”, sailing under a foreign flag, ran aground off the coast of Ahtopol. After a meeting of the Regional Crisis Staff for Disasters and Accidents, the regional administration in Burgas announced that there was no data on environmental consequences in connection with the situation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov requested clarification from the Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria, Mehmet Uyanık, regarding the reasons and the way in which the vessel entered Bulgarian territorial waters.
The Turkish diplomat stated that the operation with the tanker “Kairos” off the Bulgarian coast was carried out by a private Turkish company without prior notification of the Turkish state.
According to him, the Turkish institutions have already started an investigation into the case and will provide timely and full information to the Bulgarian authorities.