Discover the Med-Cerkezkoy: Ratings & Maritime News

An extensive underwater inspection has been conducted on the vessel 'Med Cerkezkoy', which was previously grounded on February 24 at coordinates 36°25'18" N, 27°17'18" E near the western shoreline of Tilos Island. This inspection was performed by skilled divers under the careful watch of a class surveyor. Following the initial assessment, surveyors proceeded to examine the damage to the ballast tanks, void spaces, and cargo compartments. Statements outlining the incident were gathered from the crew by the incident investigation team from the Harbour Master’s office. As of March 2, the vessel had not yet received clearance for departure. The tugboat 'Pothitos II' (IMO: 9186572) remains stationed in the inner anchorage of Tilos Island, standing by for further instructions from the port authorities due to safety precautions.

On February 25, 2023, the bulk carrier 'Med Cerkezkoy', previously aground while navigating from Piraeus to Lattakia, successfully refloated using its own power. The vessel then made its way to the Livadion area off the coast of Tilos, where it anchored securely at the coordinates 36° 25' 03.1" N, 027° 23' 40.3" E. During this operation, the Greek Coast Guard provided assistance, deploying two patrol boats alongside the vessel, while two tugs remained on standby. Authorities took precautions by placing a floating oil barrier around the ship, ensuring that no marine pollution was reported in the vicinity.

On February 24, 2023, at approximately 2 a.m. UTC, the cargo ship 'Med Çerkezköy', carrying a crew of 16 Turkish nationals, ran aground at Akra Monastiri, located on the western side of Tilos island in the Datça district of Muğla. The vessel was on its way from Piraeus to Latakia when the incident occurred. In a swift response, the sister ship 'Med Çorlu' halted its voyage to assist in the situation. Additionally, two vessels from the Greek Coastguard were deployed to the site, along with tugs 'Christos XXV' and 'Pothitos II', which established a floating barrier around the grounded ship. An authorized diver was also dispatched for a reef inspection. Fortunately, no oil spill has been reported, and the weather conditions in the area were calm at the time. The Central Port Authority of Rhodes is currently overseeing the preliminary investigation into this grounding incident.