Greek authorities are investigating the sinking of the cargo ship MN Kostas, which occurred off Crete on August 19, nearly a month after the vessel grounded. The Hellenic Coast Guard has classified the ship as a wreck and maritime hazard, instructing the owner to remove it. Images show the ship’s bow and forward section above water, with the Coast Guard noting a "vertical sinking to the starboard side."
Salvage operations had been ongoing since the vessel ran aground on July 24, approximately three nautical miles from Crete’s northeastern tip. The ship, built in 1994 and registered in Sierra Leone, was carrying gypsum to Lebanon when it grounded. All 14 crew members were rescued by fishing boats and the port authority.
Investigations are underway into the captain and watch officer for causing the shipwreck and failing to avoid a marked reef. A local salvage company, Seagate, removed 37 tons of diesel and other pollutants, and offloaded most of the gypsum cargo before the ship sank. Earlier this year, the MN Kostas faced issues regarding unpaid crew wages, which were eventually resolved.
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