On July 24, the freight ship MN Kostas, registered in Sierra Leone, ran aground near Crete’s northeast coast, prompting an urgent response from the Hellenic Coast Guard. The vessel, a 5,800-ton general cargo ship built in 1994, was transporting plaster from Sitia, Crete, to Chekka, Lebanon. The incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m., approximately six nautical miles off Sitia, leading to water flooding into the ship.
The coast guard quickly initiated evacuation procedures, deploying three patrol boats along with a fishing boat, Anna-Tasia, for assistance. All fourteen crew members were successfully evacuated and brought to safety in Sitia, with no reported injuries.
To support rescue operations, three additional tractors were dispatched from Heraklion, and divers were sent to assess the condition of the reef and the ship. Fortunately, officials reported no signs of sea pollution, and monitoring efforts are ongoing to prevent environmental damage.
Preliminary investigations, overseen by the Sitia Port Authority, led to the arrest of the ship’s captain and Bridge Watch Officer under Greek law. Earlier this year, the ship faced scrutiny when crew members reported receiving only half of their wages over four months, a situation that has since been resolved.
Share it now
