Georgian seamen rescued after cargo ship runs aground off Turkey

Four Georgian seamen have been rescued after being trapped on board the Gulf Rio cargo ship when it ran aground off Turkey.  

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that four Georgian's were on board the cargo ship when the ship came into difficulty in poor weather conditions which caused it to run ashore near Turkey's northern port city of Samsun. The four men were rescued and were now safe.

"Four Georgians who were on board the cargo ship have not been injured. They are in good health and feel safe. The crew members have been placed in one of the hotels in Samsun,” the Ministry stated today.

The 89m  cargo ship was transporting a shipment of soybeans when it ran ashore as it was nearing the port in the northern coastal province of Samsun on January 7.

The ship had come from Ukraine and came into difficulty and began to drift when heavy waves caused one of its two anchors to break, officials said.

Despite bad weather in Turkey, a group of rescuers saved 10 men who were on board the ship.