Sifnos: Cargo ship sinks, two sailors rescued

The vehicle carrier/cargo ship «EIRINI K.» (Reg. No. 12120) sank in a sea area east of Sifnos in the morning hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026, according to a Hellenic Coast Guard announcement published at 20:31 the same day. The ship was being towed from Kalymnos to Perama by the tugboat «EXANTAS» (Reg. No. 10695), when an initial water ingress was observed on the vessel, followed by rapid sinking. The two sailors on board were picked up by the tugboat’s crew and transported to the port of Kamares, Sifnos. One of the two was taken to the Sifnos Health Center for precautionary examinations, with no injury reported in the Coast Guard’s announcement.

According to a statement by the shipowner to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the «EIRINI K.» was not carrying fuel or lubricants at the time of the sinking, a factor that reduces the risk of marine pollution from the wreck. Two Coast Guard patrol boats remained in the area for surveillance, while, according to the announcement, no marine pollution had been detected by the time of its publication. The Sifnos Port Authority ordered a preliminary investigation into the circumstances of the sinking, a procedure followed in every maritime accident to establish the causes and any liability. The port authorities of Milos, Serifos and Paros were also informed, as the sea area around Sifnos is closely linked to the neighboring islands. Informing neighboring port authorities is standard practice in such incidents, so that there is coordinated surveillance of the sea area from more points and immediate mobilization in case a leak is detected.

Sifnos lies on a route used by towing lines between the Dodecanese and Attica, meaning incidents like this one directly concern the local port authorities and shipping safety in the wider area. The absence of fuel on the sunken vessel limits the environmental risk to the coasts of the island and the neighboring Cyclades, though surveillance by the patrol boats continues as a precaution. The safe rescue of both sailors is the key point emphasized by the Coast Guard’s announcement, while the tugboat’s quick mobilization appears to have prevented more serious consequences for the crew.

The Sifnos Port Authority’s preliminary investigation is expected to determine the exact causes of the water ingress and the rapid sinking of the ship, as well as the circumstances of the towing from Kalymnos to Perama. It has not been announced when the process is expected to be completed, nor whether liability will be attributed to anyone involved. The port authorities of the neighboring islands remain on alert for any signs of pollution in the coming days, despite the initial assessment that the vessel was carrying no fuel. TodayGrid will report on the findings of the investigation once they become available. It has not been announced whether the wreck of the «EIRINI K.» will remain on the seabed or whether a salvage operation will follow, a matter usually decided after the investigation is completed and in consultation with the shipowner.