On December 21, Saturday, the bulker vessel “CDRY Blue” went aground on a rocky shore on the coast of Sardinia, Italy, leading to the Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) launching a rescue operation for those onboard.
Specifically, the Italian Coast Guard evacuated the crew and set a pollution-prevention effort to prevent any potential pollution from the vessel’s grounding.
The local media reported that the vessel was looking for shelter, as it had a hard time during the stormy weather. Yet, it ran aground on a shoal between Porto Sciusciau and Capo Sperone, in the Sant’Antioco area of south-western Sardinia.
Moreover, following reports of the accident, the Cagliari Harbor Office conducted an effort to save the crew, by dispatching two patrol boats and one helicopter from the Guarda Costiera to the scene.
As the weather conditions were challenging, with 50 knot winds, the helicopter aircrew were not able to immediately hoist the seafarers off the vessel. Therefore, the next morning it returned and managed to rescue all 12 members of the CDRY Blue’s crew.
Following, the Italian authorities sent spill response vessels from Trapani with the vessel remaining on the rocks given that unstoppable strong winds challenge the salvage response efforts.
