ALL MEMBERS OF 'NAUTICA 64' CREW ARE FROM SAME TOWN NEAR SPLIT

SPLIT, Jan 5 (Hina) - A commission in charge of establishing why the 'Nautica 64' cargo ship from Split capsized off the Italian coast near Ancona on Friday morning held a meeting in Split this evening. A member of the commission, established today by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications, captain Mario Babic, chief maritime inspector with the Ministry, confirmed before the closed-door meeting that there were five persons on board the ship, of whom three were killed in the accident, one was rescued and rescue teams were still searching for the fifth seaman. All five seamen are from Krila Jasenica, a small town near Split. Captain Babic told reporters that according to information he received around 6 pm, the ship was still floating in the waters off the Italian coast and had not sunk as reported by some media. He added that investigations into maritime accidents were usually long and difficult and he could not prejudge any conclusions. The only survivor, Geni Vukovic, is in a state of shock but is not hurt and is feeling well. He will return to Split once the bodies of his fellow seamen have been autopsied. On board the ship, apart from Geni Vukovic, were also steersman Dusko Vukovic, engine driver Sinisa Madunic, captain Petar Jasic and seaman Marko Mijatovic. The owner of the ship, who has not made any statement about the accident yet, is a member of the commission as well. (hina) rml ,