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Damaged ship sank about two weeks after attack
On the late night of Oct 19, the 'Able' disappeared from the radar, and it was believed that the ship has finally sunk, almost two weeks after the attack on Oct 6 in Bulgaria’s EEZ, about 70 nautical miles from Byala. Air Force and Navy teams had inspected the ship on Oct 9 and reported extensive damage from a fire and that the engine room was flooded. The ship was loaded with barley, bound from Romania bound for Turkey. The inspection had failed to find any drone fragments. Despite being down at the stern and listing, the Able continued to drift in the Black Sea. On Oct 14, at 1.10 a.m., the 'Able' drifted out the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone, when the ship was about 33 nautical miles east of Ahtopol.
No drone parts found on wreck
No drone parts shedding light on the origin of the attack were found during the inspection of the 'Able' in the Black Sea on Oct 9. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated this during a briefing at the Chaika naval base in Varna. The minister emphasised that no assumptions regarding the drone's origin should be made without evidence. Both the Ukrainian and Russian sides denied an involvement in the attack. Two servicemen from the 24th Air Base were lowered by a Cougar helicopter to inspect the vessel and remained aboard for more than 30 minutes. The 'Able' was severely damaged by the fire, the engine room was partially flooded, but the vessel remained afloat for the time being. It was determined that the ship was carrying wheat. As of Oct 13, it remained about 60 nautical miles from the Bulgarian coast, out of radar range. The chief expert at the Coastal Center – Burgas, Evgeni Mavrodiev, said that the location of the 'Able' was confirmed by a ship that passed near the point. The currents were currently moving the wreck away from Bulgarian waters. Only if it approached Bulgarian waters, the Coastal Center would react. Reports with photos and video: https://www.24chasa.bg/bulgaria/article/23722900 https://www.vesti.bg/bulgaria/pokazaha-obsledvaneto-na-koraba-ejbyl-6272759
No further investigations after attacks on cargo ships in Bulgarian EEZ
No new operations were planned to investigate the 'Alfa Watan', the Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Oct 12. Bulgaria would again like the NATO to assist with radar equipment in the defense of the Black Sea for increased surveillance of the airspace in order to have situational awareness. On Oct 9, two paratroopers were dropped off on the 'Able' in a 30-minute operation, following which no drone debris had been found. Bulgaria’s government has declined to apportion blame for the attack on the vessels, in spite of the widespread belief that the only likely culprit was Russia. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said on Oct 12 that Bulgaria was doing everything necessary and possible so that its maritime border was reliably protected and serving as a benchmark as the external border of the European Union and the Eastern Flank of the NATO. The Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said that the Black Sea should be considered not only as a regional issue, but also as a concern for all EU and NATO countries.
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