Tensions between Greece and Turkey have been ratcheted up again after the Greek coastguard fired warning shots over an elderly ropax.
The Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed it fired into the air past a vessel named as the Anatolian, flying the flag of Comoros.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said the ship was in international waters, but Greece said the Anatolian was “moving suspiciously” in Greek territorial waters off the island of Lesbos.
The Turkish coastguard placed the incident 11 nautical miles (20km) south-west of the Turkish island of Bozcaada.
The organisation said in a statement that two Greek boats opened fire.
A Greek shipping ministry official told Bloomberg that the ropax was not emitting AIS.
The coastguard requested to board, but the master refused and continued to sail, prompting the warning shots.
The Greek coastguard said the ship was later escorted to nearby Turkish waters, where maritime authorities in Turkey were informed about the incident.
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Turkey of “bullying” in reference to the incident.
The ship has the MMSI number 620999016.
