Aeolos

On Jan 13 at 7.45 a.m. the 'Aeolos' was safely anchored off Piraeus in pos. 37° 54.46' N 023° 33.77' E following a difficult salvage operation which started a week ago when a rudder failure hit the ship with a crew of 23 on board during a storm blowing with wind force 10 north-east of Cape Malea on Jan 6. The two tugs 'Vernicos Sifnos' (IMO: 9420435), and 'Alexander' (IMO: 9020405) of Med Tugs managed to tow the ship to a safe mooring where the mechanical damage will be investigated. The tugs remained on standby. On Jan 14 around 9 a.m. they were joined by the tugs ‘Ifestos 2‘ (IMO: 7811525)‚Chrisos XLii‘ (IMO: 8127921), and ‘Karapiperis New Gene‘ (IMO: 9080663), and the bulkcarrier was pulled to a mooring at Ampelakia. Report with photo: https://maritimedanmark.dk/?Id=42672

The 'Aeolos' continued to drift in heavy weather south of the Peloponnese. However, it has been secured to the tug ''Vernicos Sifnos' (IMO: 9420435), which sailed from Piraeus on Jan 6. Also the 'Alexander' (IMO: 9020405) was in the vicinity on Jan 11. The towage will begin once the weather has eased. Winds in the area have reached 10 on the Beaufort scale. Also, the stricken vessel is fully laden with a cargo of steel products, bound from Gebze to Malta, with 22 crew members on board.

The 'Aeolos' with 22 crew members on board suffered a rudder failureand was disabled in the morning of Jan 6, 2020, in the Aegean Sea northeast of Cape Maleas resp. southeast of the Peloponnese. The Greek MRCC was monitoring the situation, ready to intervene. The vessel was enroute from Diliskelesi to the port of San Nicolas, Argentina, with a cargo of 19,273,42 tons iron ore on board. The ship was NUC since 7 a.m. and drifting in southsouthwestern direction. Weather on scene was storm with wind force 10 from the North and air temperatures close to zero. Two patrol boats were deployed to the ship, and the Greek MRCC was in constant communication with the captain of the bulk carrier. A tug was sent from Piraeus to the take the ship in tow. Vessels sailing nearby were requested to assist the Coast Guard's operation.