A Turkish Cargo ship suffered a catastrophic failure when seawater started entering the engine room, early Sunday morning. After sending out an SOS call, an emergency evacuation of the crew was initiated in the archipelago of the island of Jabuka.

Eight sailors were transferred to Split by a police boat, but the captain and four other sailors said they would remain on board for as long as possible.

The captain and the rest of the crew are trying to prevent further water penetration into the hull of the Turkish freighter “Haksa” and prepare the boat for towing. Officers of the Split Port Authority are also present at the scene and the situation is currently under control.  

“No pollution of the sea has been noticed and with the arrival of Brodospas’s ships (a Croatian ship rescue service), more will be known about whether the ship can be towed and when”, David Radas, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure told Morski.hr.

Earlier reports from the Ministry reported that the first SOS calls were received by the Maritime Traffic Monitoring and Management (VTMIS Split) officers, at 04:16, Sunday.

The National Center for the Coordination of Maritime Search and Rescue (MRCC Rijeka) was then notified of the accident.