Recovery operation under way for sailboat grounded near Thessaloniki

A recovery operation was underway Sunday to free and tow a sailboat that ran aground in shallow water off Agia Triada, near Thessaloniki, according to the Greek state broadcaster ERT. The vessel, named Alkyon, had left the Thessaloniki Nautical Club marina with two German passengers for a rented trip to the Halkidiki peninsula. For reasons that remain unclear, it struck a sandy seabed and became stranded. Coast guard and Civil Protection teams responded. An initial attempt to refloat the boat using a fishing vessel did not work, and a larger vessel was expected to try again. The passengers were unhurt and no pollution was reported.