Tanker runs aground off the coast of Rhodes, Greece
Athens: A small products tanker ran aground off the Greek island of Rhodes and has been refloated, according to reports from the Greek coastguard.
The Taxiarchis (2,500 dwt, built 1994) was sailing from the island of Simi for Anafi, carrying 1,000 cbm of diesel when it ran aground, damaging its hull.
Greek authorities refloated the vessel, which sailed by its own means into port in Rhodes with an escort of two of the coastguard’s patrol vessels.
The Rhodes Port Authority has barred the vessel from leaving the port until the damage has been repaired and the ship’s classification society has confirmed that the ship is ‘in class’.
There were no injuries or marine pollution caused by the incident, the coastguard said. There were 10 crew onboard the vessel.
The vessel’s registered owner is Greece’s Med Sea Tankers Shipping, but it is unclear who operates the Taxiarchis.