New details emerge about the Comoros-flagged vessel Raptor after its sinking near Lesbos
A rescued crew member’s testimony has brought fresh questions about the fate of the cargo ship Raptor, which sank off the coast of Lesbos. The vessel, registered under the Comoros flag, had reportedly been bound for Ukraine at the time of the disaster, with cargo described as anomalous by several reports. The incident was first reported by the Greek daily Kathimerini.
The disaster occurred on a Sunday, leaving 14 crew members unaccounted for or lost. The seafarers’ nationalities were identified as one Indian, 11 Egyptians, and two Syrians. An Egyptian crew member survived, while the body of another sailor was recovered from the water. The vessel was reported by AMNA news agency to be transporting a cargo of salt from Egypt to Istanbul. It is believed the captain warned of engine trouble and potential flooding in the holds, which caused the ship to list and take on water. A distress call was issued in the early hours as nearby ships were urged to provide assistance; shortly after, the Raptor disappeared from radar entirely.
Kathimerini subsequently obtained information indicating that the Raptor had been blacklisted by international maritime surveillance bodies, including Paris MOU and Black Sea MOU. The reasons cited include the discovery, two years prior, of invalid crew documents and questionable entries in the Petroleum Register. These findings have raised concerns about possible illicit activity aboard the ship, such as smuggling.
Additional reporting from Kathimerini cites a rescued sailor who stated that the ship’s final destination was Ukraine, with Istanbul serving only as a refueling stop. This detail has sharpened suspicions among authorities. It is suggested that the crew may not have issued a formal distress request following the flooding of cargo spaces, as instructed by the ship’s owner, until just moments before the ship sank.
The same shipping company is linked to another recent maritime incident, the sinking of the Manassa Rose in Kissamos Bay, Crete, in January 2022. Investigators filed charges against the crew for actions that contributed to the shipwreck and for transporting smuggled tobacco products.
Recent public statements from Zelensky’s office have referenced regional tensions, noting that Russia faces consequences for explosions linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The evolving situation underscores ongoing scrutiny of maritime safety, crew verification processes, and the monitoring of vessels with questionable regulatory compliance.
Experts emphasize the need for robust international cooperation to verify ship documentation, monitor flag-of-convenience registrations, and track cargo manifests, especially when routes overlap with sensitive regions. Maritime authorities continue to review ballast data, voyage records, and engine performance reports to better understand the sequence of events that led to the Raptor’s disappearance and sinking. Inquiries aim to determine whether illegal activities or misrepresentation of vessel identity played a role in the incident, and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As investigators assemble evidence from salvage operations, radar data, and crew testimonies, officials stress the importance of safeguarding crew welfare, enforcing port state control standards, and improving emergency response coordination across international waters. The sinking of the Raptor serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of offshore incidents and the critical need for transparency in ship ownership, registration, and cargo documentation.