Turkey's transport ministry identified the freight that briefly collided with a Hellenic Navy gunboat in the early morning hours of Friday as the "Karmate", merely saying there were no injuries, damages or environmental risks.
The incident, according to the Greek side, occurred 4.5 nautical miles southeast of the major eastern Aegean island of Lesvos (Mytilene).
In an annnouncemenet hours later, the Greek navy general staff said the Turkish-flagged freighter "came in contact" with the gunboat "Armatolos", approaching the 55-meter Greek warship from its port (left) side. The commercial vessel then increased speed in order to sail back into Turkish territorial waters.
According to subsequent media reports in Athens, aTurkish coast guard patrol boat later intercepted the 2,180-dwt general cargo vessel as it sailed in Turkish territorial waters. On Friday afternoon, the vessel was reported as docked at the west Turkish coastal town of Dikili.
