Monday, 1st December 2008 - 15:28CET

Update 3: Ship sinking off Delimara - crew brought to Malta

The rescued sailors arrive in Malta.

(Adds crew's arrival, picture)

The 16-man crew of a Cambodian-registered bulk carrier have arrived in Malta after having abandoned a sinking bulk carrier 26 miles off Delimara.

The 88-metre long Maystar issued a Mayday distress call as it started taking on water this afternoon and listed quickly, causing the crew to jump into life rafts.

The Armed Forces of Malta scrambled two Italian Military Mission AB 212 helicopters and instructed other merchant ships to approach the ship.

The crew were picked up from the sea by another merchant ship, the Sea Flower, which later transferred them to the Melita II which brought them to Malta.

All are in good condition.

The Maystar, owned by a company in Belize, was carrying a cargo of wood. The crewmen said they suspected the ship listed after a fault in the ballast tanks.

Previous article • Muscat meets European socialist leaders in Madrid
Next article • Trapped Maltese returning from Thailand

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

David Scerri (on 2/12/08)

what must be the worst sight in the world is a ship sinking, thank whoever that no lives were lost, now will this ship be classed as salvage, if it is the owner of the tug is in for a hefty pay out.