Helicopter rescue for sailors on listing ship
The British navy assisted coast guard officers yesterday as they rescued 11 sailors from a cargo ship that had begun listing in gale-force winds off the coast of Karpathos in the southeastern Aegean. The Saint Vincent and Grenadines-flagged Aphrodite S was carrying bulk cement from Cyprus to Italy when it ran into stormy conditions. Its cargo shifted, which caused the vessel to take on water. All 11 of the Romanian crew abandoned ship and were pulled from the sea by rescuers in helicopters from the British frigate HMS Monmouth and the coast guard. The sailors were taken to Rhodes for medical checks and were found to be in good condition. The Monmouth had been in the area as part of a multinational operation to protect ships and deter terrorist attacks.
