site.btaBulgarian Navy Commander: No Mine-Like Objects Reported on Day of Fishing Vessel Sinking

The Bulgarian Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov, Thursday gave a new conference about the search and rescue operation and inspection of a Bulgarian fishing vessel with a crew of three which has been unaccounted for since February 18. He said that no mine-like objects were reported from the fishing vessel on the day of the incident near Cape Maslen Nos on Bulgaria's southern Black Sea coast.

Mihaylov added that in 2025, the Bulgarian Navy received more than 20 reports, all of which were investigated. The Navy has destroyed six floating mines since the start of the war in Ukraine. Last year, two remnants of naval strike drones, multiple missile fragments and other munitions were also neutralized at sea, but the diver inspection of the sunken fishing vessel showed that the hull is intact, he said.

He recalled that the Navy is not the agency responsible for organizing search and rescue in Bulgaria's maritime SAR region. Responsibility lies with the Defence Ministry, with the Navy providing support. He explained that the operation was initiated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Varna.

Due to heavy snowfall and freezing rain on February 18, a helicopter could not participate in the operation, Mihaylov added. Still, he ordered the aircraft to remain on standby for immediate take-off should weather conditions allow. This occurred the following day. Overnight, the frigate Drazki remained in the area, continuing the search with night-vision equipment in the zone where a life raft with survivors might have drifted. Unfortunately, in such severe conditions, no traces of a raft or any people were found, the commander said.

Later, the Chief of Defence authorized a diving operation to inspect the sunken vessel, Rear Admiral Mihaylov said. A diving team from the Burgas Naval Base conducted a survey using hydroacoustic equipment and the ship was located. Deep-water divers from Varna, equipped with additional gear, were then deployed, as the vessel had sunk to a depth of 38 metres, limiting shallow-water divers to no more than 10 minutes of work. Several further surveys were carried out using remotely operated vehicles, along with numerous diver inspections, ultimately confirming that the sunken vessel was indeed the lost fishing boat, the commander noted.

Taking a question, Rear Admiral Mihaylov could not say whether a new aerial survey of the area would yield any results. As the sea temperature is around 6 C now, a person without protective gear can survive for only a few minutes. Therefore, if people are not wearing protective suits or are not in a life raft, as has been determined, the likelihood of survival is very low, he said. He added that it is impossible to enter the interior of the vessel, and if access is required, the hull would likely have to be cut or other measures taken.

While the investigation is under way, the area of the fishing vessel's sinking remains closed to navigation.