By Jite Eriabie
The Police in Italy have detained an MSC containership, MSC Giannina, after its Captain reportedly disappeared from the ship.
The incident took place while the 2,054 TEU Sub Panamax containership was en route from Gioia Tauro to Genoa, Italy, last week, between the 19th and 20th of October.
According to Italian media, the missing mariner is a 54-year-old man of Ukrainian nationality, identified as Juri Kharytonov, the ship’s captain.
“MSC informed police and other authorities that a person was reported missing from the container ship MSC Giannina while sailing between Gioia Tauro and Genoa.
“The vessel carried out a search in collaboration with the Italian and French navies before continuing its voyage to Genoa where the crew is cooperating with the authorities. In line with normal procedures, MSC has also opened its own inquiry into the incident,” a statement from MSC reads.
The circumstances surrounding the crew member’s disappearance remain a mystery.
The vessel has reportedly been arrested by the Genoa’s prosecution office until further notice.
The Portuguese-flagged boxship, built in 1997, remains moored in Genoa, Italy, where it arrived on October 21st, based on the vessel’s latest AIS data.
An investigation into the case is underway.
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