General cargo vessel SIRIUS suffered mechanical failure on Jan 4 in Mediterranean sea west of Paliros, southern tip of mainland Greece, and started to drift towards Greek coast. At 0100 UTC Jan 5 vessel was in vicinity 36 24N 022 23E, 4-5 nm off coast in Paliros area. Tug was sent from Pylos to assist troubled freighter. Ukrainian freighter with 13 Ukrainian crew and cargo of mineral rock is en route from Morocco to Turkey.