PIRIREIS

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Search for missing Syrian crew continued

The Greek Coastguard on Apr 30 continued its major rescue operation for the eight Syrian sailors who went missing after the sinking of the "Pirireis" the previous day shortly before 7 a.m. near the island of Sapienza. While the "Pirireis" sank in seven minutes after having been hit amidship by the unloaded "Consouth", the latter suffered only minor damage. The 16-member crew of the Consouth were unhurt. There was no risk of pollution in the area.

Two dead and eight missing after collision and sinking in Meditarranean Sea

The "Pirireis" sank 78 miles southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula off southern Greece after colliding with the Antigua flagged "Consouth" on Apr 29, 2013, around 7 a.m., leaving two Syrian crew members dead and eight others missing. Weather conditions were good at the time of the collision which happened five nautical miles off the islet of Sapienza, which facilitated the following SAR operation which was involving Greek Coastguard vessels, merchant ships, a rescue helicopter and an airforce C-130 transport plane. When the "Piri Reis" had been carrying a cargo of fertilizer and had left Casablanca on Apr 17 bound to Nekolayv, sank, seven of its crew of 17 Syrian seamen were rescued. Two bodies were pulled out of the sea a few hours after the collision. The "Consouth" was sailing from Tuzla to Istambul without cargo. It crew of 16 Russians, Filippinos and Polish seamen were unhurt.