It was reported that the General Cargo ship MV Helt was targeted by missiles off Odessa.
It was reported that the General Cargo ship MV Helt was targeted by missiles off Odessa.
While it was stated that the Panama-flagged ship, built in 1985, sank in the Black Sea as a result of the damage, it was understood that 2 Russian and 4 Ukrainian crew members left the ship on life rafts.
A search and rescue operation was requested for the missing crew. On the other hand, it remains unclear whether there were casualties, injuries or leaks.
“The Estonian-owned cargo ship Helt SUNK on Thursday off the Ukrainian port of Odesa after an explosion,” Igor Ilves, managing director of Tallinn-based manager Vista Shipping Agency, told Reuters. “Two crew members were in a life raft at sea while four others were unaccounted for.”
“The vessel has finally sunk,” he said. “Two of the crew are in a raft on the water and four others are missing. I don’t know where they are at the moment.” Ilves said the vessel might have struck a mine.
“Estonia is a member of NATO, leading to fears the sinking could spark further conflict in Eastern Europe,” writes Jonathan Saul of Reuters.
