Athens, Greece – The Greek Coast Guard announced on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the successful rescue of all nine crew members of the cargo ship Korsage C. The ship ran aground and sank in rough seas north of the island of Andros early that morning.
Details of the heroic rescue operation
The incident began when authorities received a report that the 88-meter-long, Vanuatu-flagged vessel had sustained significant damage after striking a rocky area while sailing from an Albanian port toward Ukraine. The ship was carrying approximately 8,000 metric tons of soda ash.
A coast guard official explained to the Kathimerini newspaper that a heavy water leak caused the vessel to lose its balance. As a result, it sank completely.
A comprehensive rescue operation involved coast guard vessels, the passenger ship “Samos,” three passing boats, and a helicopter from the Greek Air Force.
Teams managed to rescue two sailors from the open sea. The remaining seven (eight Turks and one Azerbaijani) were located in a rugged, rocky area of the island. All were taken to Andros Hospital for treatment. The captain confirmed that no one was missing.
تحركات وقائية لمواجهة التلوث البحري
Although there were no immediate visible signs of pollution, Greek authorities activated their environmental emergency plan as a precautionary measure.
Two specialized vessels arrived from the port of Rafina at the site of the sinking to deploy floating booms and absorbent materials to prevent any potential fuel spill. These measures aim to ensure the protection of the marine ecosystem around the island.
Investigations into the causes of the accident
The circumstances surrounding the grounding of the Corsage C remain unclear, as port authorities conduct a thorough investigation with the crew to determine whether the incident was caused by human error or a sudden technical malfunction.
Stable weather conditions in the area played a crucial role in expediting the rescue operations. This prevented the incident from becoming a human tragedy, pending the results of the official investigation in the coming hours.
