Greek panamax sinks

A 25-year-old panamax bulker has sunk in the Red Sea 12 days ago without causing any casualties or pollution, its Greek managers told TradeWinds on Friday.

The 69,300-dwt Panamax Trader (built 1990) was abandoned by its crew in the early hours of 8 March after reportedly “seriously heading by bow”, Piraeus-based managing company Chian Spirit Maritime Enterprises said in an e-mail.

“A short while after the vessel was abandoned she disappeared from the sea surface. Relevant authorities and MRCC were promptly notified,” the company added.

The Imabari-built ship was heading to Djibouti for temporary repairs after a grounding incident in the Tiran Strait.

It was carrying about 62,000 tons of rock phosphate.

Its crew of 24 Philippines and Greeks were rescued by a salvage tug whose master found no pollution, debris or navigational hazard after conducting a search in the area.

source:www.tradewindsnews.com