Greek authorities have arrested the captain and bridge officer of the Vanuatu-flagged cargo ship Corsage C, which sank off the island of Andros earlier on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old captain and the vessel’s 32-year-old bridge officer were taken into custody after a cargo ship sank in a rocky sea area north of Andros island.
According to authorities, the two men face charges under several provisions of the Criminal Code, including negligence, causing public damage, causing danger through negligence, and causing a shipwreck.
A Hellenic Coast Guard handout shows rescue operations underway after a cargo ship ran aground and sank off the island of Andros, Greece, May 6, 2026. Hellenic Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters
Officials said a case file has been opened as investigators look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Corsage C was en route from Albania to Ukraine carrying approximately 8,000 metric tons of soda when it suffered severe damage after crashing into rocks off the Greek island.
The captain reportedly admitted to authorities that he had fallen asleep while on duty before the vessel ran aground.
All nine crew members aboard the ship were safely rescued by the Hellenic Coast Guard, with no injuries reported.
Meanwhile, Greek authorities have launched a preventive anti-pollution operation in the waters north of Andros due to concerns over a potential fuel leak from the sunken vessel. The operation forms part of an emergency response plan aimed at preventing marine pollution in the area.
