Potential casino cast adrift in Aegean

A half-built aircraft carrier being hauled to China to become a floating casino was left adrift in high gales early today after it broke lose from its tugboats, authorities said.

The merchant marine ministry said the rudderless and engineless carrier Varyag was drifting in international waters near the Aegean Sea island of Skyros and was not in any immediate danger of sinking or running ashore.