Kos: drifting sailing boat with nine on board towed in

A sailing vessel flying the flag of Malta was left adrift on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 August in the sea area of the strait between Kos and Kalymnos. According to a report in the Rhodes newspaper Dimokratiki, the Kos Port Authority was informed by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of the Coast Guard about the loss of steerage, which was due to a loss of power. Nine foreign passengers were on board. A patrol vessel of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the tug «POTHITOS II», Piraeus Registry 12730, rushed to the scene, and the tug took on the towing.

The sailing vessel was brought safely to the port of Kalymnos, where it was established that all those on board were in good health. The Kalymnos Port Authority prohibited the vessel from sailing until the fault is fully repaired and a certificate of seaworthiness is produced. This is the standard procedure followed in every case of mechanical failure: lifting the ban requires an inspection by a recognised body or surveyor, so as to certify that the vessel can sail without danger. No marine pollution was observed from the incident, something that is always checked in cases of engine failure. Towing a vessel requires coordination, since excessive strain on the hull must be avoided and a steady speed maintained until the port.

The strait between Kos and Kalymnos is one of the busiest passages in the Dodecanese, as scheduled passenger ships, high-speed craft, fishing boats and a large number of pleasure craft pass through it. August is the peak month for navigation in the area, with dozens of sailing boats chartered by foreign visitors. Mechanical failures on such vessels are relatively frequent and are usually due to problems with the propulsion system or to ropes fouling the propeller, while the risk increases when they are combined with strong winds. Kalymnos and Kos are connected by frequent sailings throughout the summer, with the passage narrowing at certain points and requiring increased care from skippers.

The cause of the loss of power has not become known, nor whether the vessel had undergone the required checks before sailing. It has also not been announced whether a case file was opened or whether penalties were imposed on the skipper. Throughout the summer season the Coast Guard carries out intensive checks on pleasure craft, with an emphasis on life-saving equipment, certificates and the legality of charters. Similar incidents involving vessels have been recorded in other areas as well, such as the collision of boats at Eretria. The passengers disembarked normally at Kalymnos. The authorities advise those chartering vessels to check the certificates, the life-saving equipment and the adequacy of fuel before sailing.