The tanker Mentor is drifting off Shabla after the ropes towing it to the tug Ramazan Bey snapped, the press office of the Ministry of Transport and Communications said. Early data suggest the tanker carries about 11,000 tonnes of sunflower oil.

The tow began from the Romanian port of Constanta.

The tug's crew is in contact with the ship traffic control service, and the tug is sending a signal through the automatic ship identification system. Controllers ordered it not to move away from the tanker, and it is staying in the area.

The ministry is following the case together with the maritime authorities involved. The institutions are gathering more information and have already contacted the ship's owner.

Last week, three drones hit a ship carrying lithium-ion batteries 17 nautical miles from Cape Kaliakra. The Black Sea Region Basin Directorate in Varna says it has found no pollution of the sea water from the ship incidents.