General cargo vessel sinks off Cyprus, all 10 crew members rescued

November 3 ------ Cypriot authorities launched a coordinated search and rescue operation after the vessel reported water ingress approximately 90 nautical miles west of Paphos.

The general cargo vessel AS Dream suffered water ingress and began sinking approximately 90 nautical miles west of Paphos, Cyprus, on 30 October, prompting a search and rescue operation that resulted in the safe recovery of all 10 crew members.

According to Cypriot media reports, the incident occurred at approximately 20:15 local time, when the vessel issued a distress alert. In response, the Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) activated the national emergency response plan, known as Nearchos, and coordinated the deployment of multiple military and civilian assets to the scene.

The rescue operation involved the patrol vessel Ammochostos, the police patrol boat Pentadaktylos and a helicopter dispatched to assist the distressed vessel and its crew.

Furthermore, the container ship MSC Hannah III, which was sailing in the vicinity, also joined the operation and played a key role in the rescue. Under the coordination of the Larnaca JRCC, all 10 crew members were recovered by MSC Hannah III before being transferred to the patrol boat Pentadaktylos. The patrol boat subsequently transported the rescued seafarers to the Port of Limassol. All crew members were reported to be in good health and placed under the care of the relevant authorities.

The circumstances leading to the water ingress and subsequent sinking of AS Dream have yet to be established. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Source: safety4sea.com