The vessel, which was enroute from Izmir, in Turkey to Bizerta, Tunisia, sustained serious damage after hitting rocks on the Northmost tip of the island, including a breached bow ballast tank and a hole in the stern, flooding the engine room.
Meanwhile 14 crew members have now been evacuated, with the first 12 rescued by boat, after the, master and chief officer chose to stay with their vessel. However, after the condition of the vessel futher deteriorated, the US Navy vessel USS Bataan was called in to airlift the two to safety. No casualties were reported.
An unknown amount of vessel’s 204 teu of cargo has been washed overboard.
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