Avrasya[2] was a Ro-Ro ferry that was hijacked in the Black Sea hostage crisis of 1996.

The ship was powered by four 6-cylinder Fiat diesel engines ( 6,120 kilowatts (8,210 hp)), which could propel her at 16.7 knots (30.9 km/h).

[4] Lazio was built as a passenger ship by Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Palermo as yard number 201.

In June 1984, Sant Andrea was sold to Achaid Lines, Piraeus and renamed Makedonia.

In December 1986, following a takeover of her owners by Agapito Bros, Piraeus, she was renamed Corfu Diamond.

In 1988, Corfu Diamond was sold to the Megacycle Shipping Co, Limassol, Cyprus and was renamed Larnaca Rose.

The hijackers threatened to kill a hostage every 10 minutes unless the captain of the ship revealed himself and agreed to sail out of port.

The rebels threatened to sink the ship in the Bosporus Strait if fighting continued in Pervomayskoye.

Negotiations with the hijackers failed to obtain the release of a diabetic police officer and a pregnant woman.

[11] Erdinç Tekir, Sedat Temiz, Ertan Coşkun, Ceyhun Mollamehmetoğlu served 4½ years in prison.