Another ship drama

[Maik]

Migrant ship off Greece says armed people on board: reports

A cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants near the Greek island of Corfu sent out a distress signal saying armed people were on board on Tuesday, Greek television reported.

Two Greek officials confirmed that a distress signal had been received from the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M but did not give further details on the message.

A Greek frigate, a coastguard vessel and a military helicopter were heading to the area, they added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/30/us-greece-ship-armed-idUSKBN0K80RG20141230

[Maik]

A cargo ship carrying hundreds of migrants had been abandoned by its crew near Corfu and put on course to be wrecked on the Italian coast before it was rescued.

Up to 900 migrants, possibly Syrian and Kurdish refugees, were taken off the Blue Sky M to safety overnight after coast guards moored it in Gallipoli.

An eyewitness at the Italian port told the BBC World Service he had heard there were “four or five dead people” on board and there were further unconfirmed reports that passengers were suffering frostbite.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cargo-ship-carrying-up-to-900-migrants-was-abandoned-by-crew-and-programmed-to-crash-9951130.html