Tanker Carrying 11,000 Tonnes Of Sunflower Oil Drifts off Bulgaria After Tow Line Snaps In Storm

A tanker loaded with 11,000 tonnes of sunflower oil, broke free from its tow line and is currently drifting off Bulgaria. An operation to secure the vessel and bring it to safety had begun from the Port of Constanta, Romania but had to be called off due to bad weather.

The tugboat Ramazan Bey was towing it when the line broke, after which the crew of the tug reported the incident. Another tug reached the scene to assist. The tanker had been attacked previously off Odessa while it was en route to Turkiye.

Weather conditions became worse when the tugs began to tow the vessel, and although they were able to restore the line, one of the tugs collided with the tanker during the process.

The tug issued a distress call on November 4, 2026, at 4:20, and Romanian port authorities sent boats to rescue the 7 crew members.

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