The causes of the collision between the two cargo ships that occurred yesterday afternoon off Chios, specifically 9 nautical miles north-northwest of the island, remain unclear so far.

The master of the cargo ship ANT, which suffered serious material damage in the middle of its hull after the collision with the cargo ship Potentia and which also had 10 Turkish sailors among its crew members, refused any assistance when it was pointed out to him by a Greek rescuer that he is in a Greek search and rescue area and that if he needs help, he should request it from the Greek authorities.

Then, accompanied by the Turkish Coast Guard vessel, it headed towards the Turkish coast to provide assistance.

It is noted that from the first moment of the incident, a large number of port vessels and aerial vehicles arrived at the scene, as well as that there were no injuries among the crews of the two ships, in which a total of 32 people were on board. .

In particular, seven patrol vessels of the port, one offshore vessel, while a Navy vessel, a Canadair CL-215 aircraft of the Air Force, three (03) SUPER PUMA helicopters of the Air Force, as well as ships afloat also assisted.

Also, a Turkish Coast Guard vessel had sunk in the above sea area.

The Singapore-flagged ship Potentia with 19 foreign crew members on board and which had departed from Izmir bound for France collided with the stern in the middle of the Vanuatu-flagged ship ANT, which had 13 foreign crew members on board including 10 Turkish nationals.

The particular ship had started from Alexandria, Egypt for Ukraine.

Video from the search and rescue operation and from the moment when a Greek rescuer approaches one of the two cargo ships, in order to ascertain the condition of the crew and the need for any assistance, was released by the Coast Guard.