Mini-Star

The 'Mini Star', four days after leaving port on its last voyage en route from Augusta to Saida with 11 crew members on board, capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea approximately 20 nautical miles north of Libya' Green Mountain region in pos. 34°08 N 21°47 E between Jan 18 and Jan 19, 2026 at 4.04 p.m. The ship had started rolling heavily on Jan 18, while sailing north of Jabal Akhdar, and developed an increasing list to starboard side, with the deck cargo getting in motion. The crew was mustered on the bridge. An urgent navigational warning was issued, and nearby vessels assisted in the response. Among them was the bulk carrier 'Golden Beijing' (IMO: 9439412), en route from Alsukhna to Algeciras, which rescued all crew members without injury and took them to Malta. The 'Mini Star', uilt as 'Condock III' at the Husum Shipyard in 1983, was carrying a mixed cargo of second-hand trucks, which started to shift in severe seas, construction machinery, and marble. The ship was already known to be in very poor condition and had suffered significant hull damage prior to the incident and had been detained only on Dec 20, 2025,in Marina di Carrara with 17 deficiencies. It left the port on Jan 11 towards Augusta. The vessel also had a troubled recent history: it had nearly capsized in Russia, narrowly avoiding disaster, and later proceeded to Tuzla for repairs on the return voyage, during which the ship transited the Bosphorus with a heavy list, raising further safety concerns. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTyoSnwkxIi/

The "Mini Star" was detained on Dec 20, 2025,in Marina di Carrara with 17 deficiencies, eight of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Life saving appliances - Lifeboats Not ready for use 2) Structural conditions - Steering gear Inoperative 3) Water/Weathertight - Cargo & Other hatchways Damaged 4) Emergency system - Emergency fire pump and its pipes Inoperative 5) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of training 6) Safety of navigation - Radar Inoperative 7) Safety of navigation - Nautical publications Not updated 8)) Cargo operations - Cargo operations Lack of familiarity The vessel was relased again on Jan 8, 2026 and permitted a single voyage to Tartous for permanent repairs. https://www.facebook.com/share/1CzHuWJio4/