A Russian flagged ship, Irtysh 1, has been forced onto the shallow waters and sand of Bourgas Bay, the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport said on its website on February 8 2010.

Strong winds and high seas tore the ship's anchor and made it drift to the beach near the village of Kraimorie, the Bulgarian Transport Ministry announced.

The ship's captain sent a distress call and two tugboats were dispatched to relieve the stranded vessel.

Reportedly, the ship suffered no structural damage, and there was no pollution as a consequence of the incident. All members of the crew are alive and well.