SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian maritime authorities on Saturday launched efforts to evacuate the crew of the oil tanker Kairos stranded off the Black Sea port of Ahtopol and believed to be part of the “ shadow fleet ” used by Russia to evade international sanctions linked to its war in Ukraine.
Last week, the Gambian-flagged 274-meter Kairos caught fire after an alleged attack with Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea near the Turkish coast. It was sailing empty from Egypt toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The 149,000-ton Kairos, formerly flagged as Panamanian, Greek and Liberian, was built in 2002. It was sanctioned by the EU in July this year, followed by the U.K. and Switzerland.
The ship entered Bulgaria’s territorial waters on Friday under tow by a Turkish vessel, but the mission was abruptly abandoned, leaving the tanker to drift across the sea without power like a ghost ship before stranding less than a nautical mile off the shore.
On Saturday, Rumen Nikolov, in charge of rescue operations at the Bulgarian Maritime Agency, said that it must be established through diplomatic channels why the tanker was brought into Bulgaria’s territorial waters.
Nikolov explained that the empty tanker is stable despite the bad weather, adding that there is no danger to either the crew or the environment. He said that all 10 crew members, of different nationalities, are in good condition and have enough food and water for about three days. “When the weather calms down, the ship will be towed to a safe place,” he added.
The head of border police, Anton Zlatanov, told the Nova TV channel, that communication was established with the crew, who had complied with orders and dropped anchor, and the ship is currently stable in a position off Ahtopol. “The crew expressed their desire to be evacuated, but this must be done in the safest way possible,” Zlatanov added.
Zlatanov noted that the tanker is being monitored by a radio communication system, thermal cameras from the shore, and a radar system, while communication with the crew is being maintained.
The oil tanker Kairos stranded off near the Black Sea port of Ahtopol, Bulgaria, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, after an alleged Ukrainian drone attack. (AP Photo/ Zdravko Vassilev)
The oil tanker Kairos stranded off near the Black Sea port of Ahtopol, Bulgaria, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, after an alleged Ukrainian drone attack. (AP Photo/ Zdravko Vassilev)
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Max Verstappen took pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Formula 1 title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on Saturday.
The thrilling three-way battle will be decided on Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit. The McLaren driver Norris is 12 points ahead of Red Bull’s Verstappen and 16 ahead of McLaren teammate Piastri.
Verstappen is aiming for his fifth straight F1 title — Norris and Piastri are chasing their first. All three drivers have won seven races.
Pole position is crucial in Abu Dhabi, with every driver winning from pole since 2015.
Verstappen had already set the fastest lap on his first go but went even quicker on his second attempt and set a lap time of 1 minute, 22.207 seconds, making him .201 faster than Norris and .230 quicker than Piastri.
“That was insane,” Verstappen said over team radio after his eighth pole of the season and 48th overall. “Yes. Lovely.”
Verstappen kissed his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, and shook hands with McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
Norris will win the title if he’s on the podium in Abu Dhabi. Even if Verstappen wins, the Dutchman needs Norris to be fourth or lower. If Piastri wins, he requires Norris to finish outside the top five.
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was eliminated from Q1, the first section of qualifying, for the third straight race. He also crashed in third practice due to a driver error earlier Saturday, and has not qualified inside the top 10 for four consecutive races.
“I’m so sorry,” Hamilton said over team radio. “There are no words to express how I feel.”
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
McLaren chief Zak Brown cangratulates Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after the qualifying for the he Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, kisses his girlfriend Kelly Piquet after clocked the fastest time during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after clocked the fastest time during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
In this photo taken with slow shutter speed, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the third practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the third practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britainin action during a practice for the he Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain walks back to his pits after he crashed into the track wall during the third practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
