The Panama-flagged vessel ‘LITTLE SEYMA’ went aground on the uninhabited island of Dragonisi, east of the Greek island of Mykonos, in Aegean sea, on Friday evening, according to Hellenic Coast Guard.
The vessel was en route from Russia to Famagusta, loaded with 2,700 tons of sunflower cargo and carrying 12 people onboard, but it encountered heavy weather and went onto the rocky shores.
A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel and a tug were deployed, as well as a Helicopter of the Hellenic Air Force and a Helicopter of the Navy, but due to unfavorable weather conditions, it was not possible to approach the area.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, a Navy Frigate and the ‘CHRISTOS’ tug approached the vessel, but the crew had already boarded a lifeboat and landed in a rocky area.
The first rescue operation of the twelve members was unsuccessful due to inclement weather, however the officers of the UN Submarine Missions Division, with the assistance of a fishing vessel and a speedboat, despite northern winds of 8 to 9 bf, safely disembarked the crew.
The crew were transferred to “CHRISTOS XL” and then transferred to the new port of Mykonos for first aid.
The local pollution response plan has been implemented by the Port Authority of Mykonos, which carries out the preliminary investigation.
