Lawsuit filed by family of Rovana shipwreck victim reveals shocking lapses

The family of a sailor who died when the Rovana (formerly Raptor) cargo ship sank 4.5 nautical miles southwest of Lesvos in the eastern Aegean in November 2023 have filed a lawsuit in Greece, accusing the ship's foreign owners and their insurance company of gross negligence.

The lawsuit reveals disturbing details about the Rovana's final journey, including engine malfunctions, water pumps running continuously for five days and broken lifeboats.

The plaintiffs claim that the tragedy was the result of the vessel not being seaworthy and lacking proper safety measures, and the captain's failure to seek timely assistance. 

Of the 14 Egyptian sailors on board, only one survived. One body was recovered and the rest were lost at sea. The ship had been struggling for days with severe technical issues, including significant water ingress and an increasing tilt, but the...