The Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship ANTEPLİ sank near Baf, Cyprus. All 10 crew members were rescued by MSC HANNAH III.
A Tanzanian-flagged general cargo ship named ANTEPLİ (formerly known as AS DREAM), reported to be owned by Turkish interests, sank off the coast of Baf, Cyprus. All 10 sailors aboard the vessel were rescued by the MSC HANNAH III, which was passing through the area. The ship has a history of an unresolved case involving crew abandonment.
The maritime accident occurred on the evening of October 30 in the Mediterranean Sea, when the Tanzanian-flagged general cargo ship AS DREAM began taking on water approximately 90 nautical miles west of Baf, Cyprus. Reports in the Turkish press indicated that the ship is Turkish-owned and carries the name ANTEPLİ.
Following an emergency notification received at 20:15, the Cyprus Search and Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC Larnaka) activated the NEARCHOS national search and rescue plan.
As part of the operation, a military helicopter, the AMMOCHOSTOS patrol vessel, and the PENTADAKTYLOS police boat were dispatched to the area. The Panama-flagged commercial vessel MSC HANNAH III, which was navigating nearby, also participated in the rescue efforts.
The 10 sailors rescued by the MSC HANNAH III were later transferred to the PENTADAKTYLOS boat and taken to Limassol Port. Health checks conducted by medical teams confirmed that all crew members were in good health.
The crew consisted of 9 Indian and 1 Cameroonian sailor.
It was reported that the crew of the ship was made up of nine Indian and one Cameroonian nationals. After the necessary health checks, the rescued sailors were handed over to the relevant authorities. The embassies of the respective countries were also informed about the incident.
The ship has a history of abandonment cases involving Turkish sailors.
Following the accident, notable information regarding the ship's past emerged.
According to joint records from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), AS DREAM was involved in a case of abandonment of eight sailors at Israel's Ashdod Port in September 2025.
The incident involved two Turkish, two Azerbaijani, one Georgian, and three Indian citizens, and it was noted that the crew had not been paid their salaries for four months and were facing shortages of fuel and provisions.
Although it was reported that the sailors later left the ship or were sent back to their countries, the incident still appears unresolved in the international database.
A navigation safety warning was issued in the area.
In a navigation warning published by Cypriot authorities, it was stated that the 82-meter-long ship was in a semi-submerged condition and that its navigation lights were not functioning.
It was also noted that a drifting empty rescue boat was present in the area, and other vessels were advised to navigate carefully and stay clear of the wreckage.
The cause of the ship taking on water and sinking has not yet been disclosed.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
