Storm beaches merchant ship near southern Israeli port
Israeli port
A massive cargoshipdrifted onto a beach insouthernIsrael on Thursday after heavy winds andstormy weather forced the vessel away from its anchor pointneartheportof Ashdod.
The 90 metre-long Zelek Star was carrying cement and other goods from Greece to Israel when it was swept away and approached Oranim Beach, officials said. The beach's sandy Mediterranean shoreline is popular with residents and tourists.
Photos showed locals walking along the beach with the 14 metre-high vessel towering over them in the background, abutting a stone seawall as shallow waves crashed onto its red exterior.
Captain Yigal Maor, manager of Israel'sShipping andPorts Authority, said there were 12 crew on board the vessel but that it was the responsibility of theship's owners to ensure their safety.
Theshipcarries a Panamanian flag and is owned by Turkey-based FudenShipping & Trading, according to the website maritime-connector.com. The company could not be reached for comment.