Georgian sailor aboard cargo ship sunk in Black Sea

A Georgian sailor was aboard the dry cargo ship Geroi Arsenala that sunk in the Black Sea early this morning, reportedly leaving 11 people missing.

A large-scale rescue operation is underway with eight vessels and 139 rescue workers deployed in the area, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.

There were a total of 12 people aboard the ship which was sailing under the Panamanian flag and heading from the Russian port city of Azov to Turkey, loaded with grain.

One Ukrainian crew member was rescued but it is believed that 11 others are still missing, including eight Ukrainians, two Russians and one Georgia who is a boatswain.

Officials said bad weather is making the rescue mission more difficult; there is a magnitude four storm on the Black Sea.

The ship belonged to Turkish company Gunes Shipping & Trading Company Limited.

Officials said the ship sent a distress call at 04:54 local time on Wednesday morning before disappearing in the water.

The Georgian Maritime Transport Agency said that the ship was at the Georgian port city of Poti on April 4 and it "showed no sign of technical problems”.