We are pleased to inform you that the Bulk Carrier AFALES with IMO No. 9619555, call sign 9HA240, of Maltese Flag, under the management of Minerva Marine Inc. commanded by Captain Koutsogiannis Efthymios, was involved in a search and rescue operation on the 09th of April 2012 while navigating in the Java Sea. The operation completed successfully with the rescue of 14 castaways. Specifically on the 9th of April at 0845 hours LT the Officer on Watch onboard the MV AFALES received a distress message from MV ASTERIX, Call sign: PMKA, in position Lat: 06 17,8 S Long: 116 56 E (Java Sea). The OOW informed immediately the Master who gave order to deviate from the initial course and proceeded towards the vessel in distress. On the 9th of April at 10:00 hours LT, the MV ASTERIX sunk the 17 crewmembers abandoned the ship. MV AFALES arrived first on scene and succeeded to rescue 14 seafarers while the rest 3 were rescued by MT POLAR which arrived soon after. All rescued seafarers were healthy and necessary arrangements made for their disembarkation at Lembar port on 09/04 22:00.