The wreck of the vessel “Corsage C” is located at a depth of approximately 40 meters in the waters off Andros. A preventive anti-pollution operation is currently underway. According to sources, approximately 6 to 7 cubic meters of diesel fuel remain in the ship’s tanks, a quantity that experts characterize as manageable.
Read also: Andros shipwreck: Vessel sunk at 40-meter depth – Risk of marine pollution from cargo leak (Video)
Andros: Diving operations by specialized crews
Today (7/5), diving operations will be conducted to assess the situation. At the same time, the ship’s insurance company is expected to be briefed on the conditions. It should be noted that the Andros Port Authority proceeded with the arrest of the 52-year-old captain and the 32-year-old bridge officer of the vessel “Corsage C” in connection with the shipwreck. Criminal charges were filed against them for violations of articles 28 regarding negligence, 273 regarding commonly dangerous damage, 274 regarding causing public danger through negligence, and 277 of the Penal Code regarding causing a shipwreck.
Coast Guard announcement
According to the Coast Guard: “In the early morning hours today, the Port Authorities of Andros, Karystos, Lavrio and Piraeus were informed by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters that a cargo vessel flying the flag of Vanuatu had run aground in the sea area north of Andros.
Immediately, 4 Coast Guard patrol boats, 3 passing ships, 1 fishing vessel, and a Hellenic Air Force helicopter proceeded to the location. The ship had departed from a Croatian port bound for a Ukrainian port, carrying nine foreign crew members (8 Turkish nationals and 1 Azerbaijani national) and a cargo of 3,000 metric tons of soda. During the grounding, good weather conditions prevailed in the area (variable 3-4 bf winds).
The incident caused water ingress, resulting in the ship’s sinking. The crew of a patrol boat rescued two crew members from the sea and the remaining seven from a rocky shore, who were safely transported to Andros port in good health. Subsequently, the survivors were transferred by EKAV ambulance vehicle to the Andros Health Center as a precautionary measure.
Additionally, 2 Coast Guard anti-pollution vessels and 2 more patrol boats with anti-pollution equipment arrived at the scene, where they preventively deployed floating barriers to address potential marine pollution. The Andros Port Authority, conducting the preliminary investigation, arrested the 52-year-old Captain (Turkish national) and the 32-year-old acting Bridge Officer (Turkish national) who were on duty when the incident occurred, for violation of articles 28 ‘Negligence,’ 273 ‘Commonly dangerous damage,’ 274 ‘Negligent causing of public danger,’ and 277 ‘causing shipwreck’ of the Penal Code.”
