An international search is underway for the Irish-flagged sailing yacht Maple after Italian and Greek maritime rescue authorities issued an all-ships distress broadcast seeking assistance from vessels in the Ionian Sea.
The search is being coordinated by the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Rome) and the Greek Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC Piraeus).
The earliest known Enhanced Group Call (EGC) search broadcast from MRCC Rome was transmitted at 0230 UTC on Sunday, July 5. The alert identifies the vessel as the Irish-flagged sailing yacht Maple, call sign EIOP6, with three people on board.
The broadcast gives the yacht's last reported position as 37°05'N, 19°00'E, in the Ionian Sea between western Greece and southern Italy. Merchant vessels in the area have been requested to maintain a lookout and report any sightings to the rescue coordination centres.
No further official information has been released on the yacht's intended passage, its home port or the identities of those on board.
Afloat understands the international search operation remained active on Monday evening. There was no indication at the time of publication that the search had been stood down or that the vessel had been located.
The story will be updated if further information is released by the rescue authorities.
