Bad Weather Forces Captain To Evacuate Cargo Ship "Mare" off of Crete

The captain of the St. Vincent-flagged cargo ship Mare on Tuesday ordered his crew to abandon ship amid strong winds and choppy seas off the coast of Crete, the state news agency ANA-MPA said in a report.

The report, quoting initial reports from the Greek coast guard, claims that the Mare had been stranded half a nautical mile from a beach on the outskirts of Herakleio, on the island's northern coast. Until the time the dispatch was released, it did not appear to have any mechanical problems or to be taking on water.

The report also notes that the ship is being monitored by helicopter, while its crew of six, none of whom are Greeks, are now safe and on dry land.

The Mare set sail with a mixed cargo from Turkey for Tunisia when it suddenly got caught up in gale-force winds in Greek waters.