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BBC News Online
An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship is under way off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini.
The Greek-flagged Sea Diamond issued a distress signal after running aground and is taking on water, according to local news reports.
Passengers were reported to be boarding lifeboats and abandoning the ship
More than a dozen ships and five navy rescue helicopters are helping with the evacuation effort.
Many of the 1,200 passengers on board are from Germany and the United States, local news reports said.
There are also up to 400 crew.
"Some passengers have already reached the island and no-one has been hurt," an official at the Santorini coastguard told Reuters.
"The boat was attempting to moor but ran aground in shallow waters," a local boatman told private Antenna television.
"Weather conditions are good, but the ship is taking on water and has listed heavily," he added.
The ship, run by Louis Cruise Lines, left the port of Piraeus on Monday and was due to return on Friday, officials said.
and there's a live webcam for Santorini at:
http://www.santorini.info/webcam
quote:Originally posted by jeremya:Cruise ship evacuated off GreeceBBC News OnlineAn operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship [...]
An operation to evacuate up to 1,600 people from a stricken cruise ship [...]
What !!??? She's not a "luxury cruise liner" ??!!
quote:Originally posted by Pascal:What !!??? She's not a "luxury cruise liner" ??!!
Clearly not, with a ratio of 400 crew to 1,600 passengers.
But your point is?
If the reports had referred to a "luxury cruise liner" - which they did not - you would have jumped in and said it was not a luxury ship.
Because the reports did not refer to the ship as a "luxury cruise liner" you jump in and wonder why.
What's up with you guys? You clearly think it's more important to nit-pick about the description of the ship than it is to express concern for the safety of the 2,000 souls on board.
[ 04-05-2007: Message edited by: greybeard ]
quote:Originally posted by greybeard:Clearly not, with a ratio of 400 crew to 1,600 passengers. But your point is?If the reports had referred to a "luxury cruise liner" - which they did not - you would have jumped in and said it was not a luxury ship.Because the reports did not refer to the ship as a "luxury cruise liner" you jump in and wonder why.What's up with you guys? You clearly think it's more important to nit-pick about the description of the ship than it is to express concern for the safety of the 2,000 souls on board.[ 04-05-2007: Message edited by: greybeard ]
First the 1600 souls onboard have already been evacuated safely, and anyway she is half a mile of a significant port whith 4 or 5 large commercial ships to help (not counting the government rescue vessels), the weather being very good. Not really the worst place to run aground, I assume. So I think there's nothing indecent in being a bit humourous about this.
Second, each time a cruise ship has a problem journalists systematically call it a "luxury cruise liner", even if it's an old rusty overcrowded budget bucket. I was just pointing that, that's all. So I wasn't even laughing at the "disaster" in itself, but at the journalists who often (not in that precise case) just write things not knowing what they are talking about.
quote:Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:Pascal-I knew what you meant.
I know what he meant, too.
I was questioning the validity of expressing what he said.
Pam
One wonders if something the size of Emerald Princess due there either this or next month for her christening with the "new" Royal Princess should even consider calling there.
I wonder if their charts were up to date and whether they had a pilot on board ?
Ships do not take pilots in Santorini, but only get VHF guidance. The depth of the 'crater' is such that there are only two anchorage positions for large ships and mooring buoys for four small/medium ships. The remainder have to rely on their engines to stay in position when tendering passengers ashore.
It really is an experience to watch ships manoeuvre round each other to get as close as possible to the tender dock! Ironically, Sea Diamond was a regular caller (twice weekly) and there were only two other cruise ships due today - unlike high season when there will be a dozen ships vying for space at the same time!
Look forward to hearing what the official cause of this accident is attributed to.....
The grounding took place very close to the main tender dock, where the bottom cable car station is situated. The static picture on this site shows the vessel very soon after the accident:http://www.skai.gr/master_story.php?id=44521
Oh Ruth, she's a cute little vessel to me anyway. She's an ex ferry so that accounts for some of it. See Fakta om Fartyg for lots of photos, including some interiors, but those were of her ferry days. She had quite a bit of work sone, and a small pool added before commencing cruising, so may have a changed a bit.I would love to do a short trip aboard and was initially concerned she would go under when I first saw the news this afternoon; she took on that list quite rapidly it seems.
Anyway, thankfully there were no injuries and all are safe.
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Oh Ruth, she's a cute little vessel to me anyway. She's an ex ferry so that accounts for some of it. See Fakta om Fartyg for lots of photos, including some interiors, but those were of her ferry days. Pam
Dear Pam, You are usually correct, but Birka Princess was never a ferry even if she had a small "garage" for some 80 cars. And talking of Fakta Om Fartyg, did you notice that Micke has already updated facts about today´s grounding?
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