The captain of a cargo vessel Anna issued a distress call at 0409 hours local time on 28 February after the vessel’s cargo tanks took in water. Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers’ 28,612-dwt vessel Da Ji, which was 12 nm away from Anna, received the SOS signal and immediately rushed to Anna’s location.
On spotting the distressed cargo vessel at 0510 hours, communications between the vessels were established.
"I have located your ship on my radar. I am reducing speed and proceeding to you," the captain of Da Ji said.
"Yes I see you," a crew of Anna replied.
"We will save your life, don't worry," assured Da Ji's captain.
The crew of the Cosco ship swung into action and managed to rescue the first person from the sinking cargo vessel onto Da Ji at 0610 hours.
“By 0743 hours, the cargo ship sank at the position of 3248.9N, 01603.7E, and Da Ji’s crew hastened the rescue operations,” Cosco Shipping, parent firm of Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers, said in a statement.
Fortunately, the rescue operation was a success and by 0850 hours, all 10 crew members of Anna were saved and no injuries were sustained.
The cargo vessel Anna was enroute from Istanbul of Turkey to Misurata of Libya when the accident happened.
The 10 crew members rescued onto Cosco's ship Da Ji.
The moment when the cargo vessel Anna sank in the Mediterranean Sea.