In the early hours of Tuesday, a tanker and a cargo ship collided in the Kafireas Strait, south of Karystos, Greece.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crews of both vessels.
The collision caused only minor structural damage above the waterline, with no reports of water ingress or marine pollution.
The tanker, carrying 26 crew members, was loaded with crude oil and had departed from Novorossiysk, Russia, en route to Castellon, Spain. Meanwhile, the cargo ship, manned by a 22-member crew, was unladen and traveling from an Italian port to Costanza, Romania.
Adverse weather conditions in the area prevented the ships from docking safely at Karystos. As a precaution, both vessels sailed under their own power to the anchorage of Piraeus. Authorities are expected to impose a temporary sailing ban on the ships to allow for thorough inspections.
Greek maritime authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Despite the close call, swift action by the crews and favorable outcomes ensured no harm to human life or the environment.