Tug ATHLETIC takes over tow of MENTOR towards Turkey

The tug ATHLETIC took over the tow of the damaged tanker MENTOR towards Turkey overnight on 4–5 November 2026, Maritime.bg reports. According to the publication, the operation began south-east of Varna, outside Bulgarian territorial waters. BurgasMedia also reports that the tanker is being towed south, but Flank has found no independent confirmation that the tug involved is ATHLETIC. This is a developing story and further information may be added.

Conflicting accounts of the tug and the previous tow

According to Maritime.bg, ATHLETIC sails under the Cameroonian flag and departed the Turkish port of İğneada on 4 November. The Turkish tug RAMAZAN BEY was alongside MENTOR when ATHLETIC arrived.

The publication describes a series of difficulties during the previous tow off Romania: towlines parting, a collision between the tug AYAZ BEY and the tanker, and a partial evacuation of the tug. According to its information, no Turkish seafarers were injured. BurgasMedia also reports a parted towline and a collision, after which the tanker began to drift.

BurgasMedia and the Romanian news agency RADOR describe the new tug as Turkish, while Maritime.bg identifies it as the Cameroonian-flagged ATHLETIC. Departure from a Turkish port and a course towards Turkey do not, in themselves, establish Turkish ownership or operation.

Bulgarian authorities have maintained contact with the tugs

Maritime.bg reports that, before ATHLETIC became involved, Bulgarian authorities established contact with RAMAZAN BEY off Krapets. According to the publication, the vessel traffic service was warning passing ships. RADOR carries a statement from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport saying that it is monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the competent authorities.

BurgasMedia places MENTOR off Cape Kaliakra at an earlier stage, while Maritime.bg says the new tow began outside territorial waters south-east of Varna. These accounts may describe successive positions, but the chronology is not precise enough to reconstruct the route.

In Flank’s assessment, the resumption of towing is an important step towards reducing the navigational risk following the drift. Moving away from the Bulgarian coast does not, however, mean the vessel has been made fully safe: the tow holding and the vessel reaching a safe place of reception remain decisive.

The tanker’s condition and final port remain unclear

According to preliminary information cited by BurgasMedia, there are nearly 11,000 tonnes of sunflower oil on board. The quantity has not been independently confirmed. The condition of the hull, whether or not there is a spill, the quantity of bunker fuel, the number of people on board and the final receiving port have not been established. Without this information, the full environmental risk cannot be assessed.

Maritime.bg also reports an earlier drone strike on MENTOR and a fire that severely damaged the superstructure. The cause and extent of this damage have not been independently confirmed; the location and timing of the alleged strike and the party responsible have not been established.

RADOR cites Maritime.bg and Bulgarian National Television (BNT). The repetition of the core information in several reports therefore does not, in itself, constitute independent confirmation of all the details.