A mine destroyed a general cargo ship in the Black Sea on Wednesday with the vessel’s captain reacting fast to ground the badly damaged vessel and save the crew.
The Panama-flagged Vyssos was en route to Izmail in Ukraine when its stern struck the mine. Of the 18 crew, the cook suffered the most severe injuries and was hospitalised.
The captain intentionally ran the ship aground to stop it sinking.
Ukraine’s neighbours to the south – Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey – are planning to start a mine sweeping operation in the war torn Black Sea in the new year.