It is thought to a handling error of one of the two vessels with consequent collision, or of a technical malfunction of one of the radar. The bad weather and the sea did the rest
Resumed this morning in Marina di Ravenna searches of the four Turkish sailors missing yesterday in the clash between two merchant - the Turkish-flagged "Gokbel" and "Lady Aziza" flying the flag of Belize - about 3 miles from the port. Two victims recovered yesterday, while the other five crew members were rescued turkish and transported to the hospital. The collision between the two boats took place at 8.40 am yesterday, when the merchant turkish was about to enter the harbor and the other ship was preparing to take off. Relief efforts extremely difficult because of the prohibitive weather conditions and sea.
The Turkish vessel "Gokbel" sank in a sea depth of about 15 meters, while the mercantile "Lady Aziza" - with 9 crew members of Syrian nationality - reported no obvious damage and was towed into port. Incident were opened two investigations: one of the Prosecutor's Office of Ravenna and the other of the Harbour. One of the two victims has been identified and is the 27 year old turkish Emrah Karadas. Among the missing also the commander of the Turkish ship.
Several hypotheses to which the investigators are working to explain the reason of the crash. They range from a handling error of one of the two vessels with consequent collision, a mechanical malfunction of one of the radar. Of course, the bad weather conditions have had significant influence on the tragedy - at the moment of impact between the two boat there was a blizzard and visibility was very low - both in cause it is hindering relief efforts. Based on the findings, reported ANSA, the alleged offenses under review by the prosecutor show two: the multiple murder and manslaughter shipwreck. Will be important both to the hearings of witnesses is the responsibility charges hierarchical between the two ships. Appears privileged the track error maneuver.
The collision between the two merchant took place three miles off the coast of Ravenna. The "Gokbel" with 11 Turkish seamen and a load of fertilizer on board, was entering the port of Ravenna to dock to dock Nadep, while the other mercantile flag of Belize - with nine Syrians on board - had just sailed from the same dock for Porto Nogaro, in Friuli, after downloading fertilizer. The first alarm came in the operations room of the Captaincy of Ravenna at 8.40. At that moment the weather conditions were prohibitive with a snowstorm in progress, fog because of the heat exchange between water warmer and colder air, sea and wind force 5/6 over 50 knots. It seems that the Turkish ship was centered in full astern and both sank in a few minutes at a depth of 15 meters. The vessel is lying at the bottom with the stern and the bow has remained out of the water.
Of the 11 sailors on board the merchant turkish, five were saved, two have unfortunately died, while the other four have gone missing this morning and started again searches. The hope for the four missing is that they rest on a raft adrift.
This morning - as announced by the Mayor of Ravenna Matteucci - you should hold a meeting at the Prefecture to take stock of the situation after the tragedy at sea.