Stranded Romanian sailors saved

A British frigate taking part in a Nato patrol helped rescue Romanian sailors today from a cargo ship stranded in as storm south of the Greek island of Carpathos, authorities said.

The Afrodite S, carrying bulk cement from Italy to Cyprus, was abandoned after its cargo shifted and the listing vessel took on water, the Merchant Marine Ministry said.

A helicopter from the nearby British frigate HMS Monmouth rescued five sailors, and a Greek coast guard helicopter pulled the six others from the cargo ship, the ministry said.

“All 11 sailors were all later taken to the island of Rhodes to be checked out at a hospital, and were reported to be in good condition,” a ministry spokeswoman said.

“The weather conditions in the area were very bad,” she said.

The St Vincent and Grenadines-flagged cargo ship was carrying bulk cement to Italy from the island of Cyprus.

Britain’s Royal Navy said the Monmouth was in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Active Endeavour, a multinational operation to escort and monitor ships to deter terrorist activity.