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Mysterious Russian ship sails near Black Sea coast

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The phantom ship VIVA 962 has changed at least 10 names and many owners before it surprisingly appeared near Cape Emine on November 1. The crew consists of a captain and a mechanic with Ukrainian passports from Kharkov, reports the "24 Chasa" portal.

The small tanker, intended for the transport of edible oils, literally surprised the Bulgarian services, because no one in Burgas is waiting for it for repairs, which is the reason given by the crew for coming to Bulgaria.

The 84-meter VIVA 962 (IMO: 8878764) anchored at Cape Emine and the 65-year-old captain himself made radio contact with the authorities. The ship was built in 1993. Its registration under the Panamanian flag expired in 2024.

It remains unclear how the crew of two managed to get the vessel out of Russian waters during military operations.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English publication: R. Petkova



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