Cargo Ship MN Kostas Sinks Off Crete After Running Aground For A Month

A cargo ship that had been stranded off Crete for nearly a month has sunk despite continuous salvage efforts.

The MN Kostas, a 5,800-deadweight-ton (dwt) vessel built in 1994 and sailing under the Sierra Leone flag, was confirmed to have gone down on August 19, with Greek authorities declaring it a shipwreck and a navigation hazard.

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the ship suffered what they described as a “vertical sinking to the starboard side” during the morning hours. The stern submerged with only the bow and forward section sticking out of the water near Kyriamadi, about three nautical miles west of the northeastern tip of Crete.

The vessel had run aground on July 24 while carrying gypsum from the port of Sitia, Crete, to Beirut. It struck a reef that was marked on navigation charts, and water began entering the ship. The Coast Guard had initially called the water ingress “controllable.”

At the time of the accident, all 14 seafarers were safely evacuated. They were taken ashore to Sitia with the help of a fishing boat and local port authority teams.

A salvage company named Seagate was hired to handle the situation. Over several weeks, the company removed 37 tons of diesel fuel along with lubricants, paints, and other potential pollutants.

Salvors also used cranes and an additional cargo vessel to transfer most of the gypsum cargo. Compartments and ventilation openings were sealed during the operation to reduce risks.

Tugs and other salvage ships assisted in the work. The Coast Guard deployed oil booms and anti-pollution equipment around the vessel as a precaution, and authorities have confirmed that no pollution has been reported so far.

Despite these measures, the ship sank on August 19 before the recovery could be completed.

Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the grounding and sinking. The captain and the watch officer are under investigation for allegedly causing a shipwreck and failing to avoid the reef, which was already charted.

The Coast Guard has informed the ship’s Crete-based owner, MN Shipping, that the wreck must be removed as it now poses risks to safe navigation.

The MN Kostas most recent port state control inspection was in May this year at a Turkish port, where five deficiencies were recorded, including issues with equipment designed to prevent accidents.

Earlier in 2024, the vessel was also reported for wage disputes. The International Labour Organization (ILO) said that the crew was owed nearly $18,500 in unpaid wages and had only received half of their salaries for four months. The situation was later resolved.

Reference: greekcitytimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News