The master of the "MSC Giannina", the 54-year-old Ukrainian Juri Kharytonov, was reported missing on Oct 19, 2017, in pos. 13 53N 013 43E in the Tyrrhenian sea, while the vessel was en route from Gioia Tauro to Genoa.
The master of the "MSC Giannina", the 54-year-old Ukrainian Juri Kharytonov, was reported missing on Oct 19, 2017, in pos. 13 53N 013 43E in the Tyrrhenian sea, while the vessel was en route from Gioia Tauro to Genoa. He was last seen on board at the beginning of the night. Alert was raised after a thorough search of the whole ship by the crew of 22, which turned around to retrace the stretch of sea between Corsica and Elba in search of the cman at sea. The CROSS Med in Corsica coordinated an SAR operation with its Italian counterpart. All day Italian aircraft and helicopter, assisted by the French authoorites, tried to find the missing sailor. A Puma Helicopter stationed at the Solenzarra Air Base and a Falcon 50 of the Navy Base in Lann Bihoué were deployed as well as the SNSM boats of Macinaggio and Bastia. The Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean decided to stop the search at 7.17 p.m.. The ship continued its voyage under the command of the Chief Officer, arriving at the Voltri Port in Genoa and was berthed at Polmare Terminal at 10.30 p.m. where it was seized. The Genoa police boarded the vessel to interrogate the crew.
