BBC reports that it is the cargo ship that had the problem:

Two ships have collided off the coast of Israel and at least one of the vessels has sunk, officials have said.
Reports suggested a small ship - either a fishing boat or a cargo vessel - sank when it collided with a passenger ship.

The Israeli military said there were likely to be casualties. Two crew members from the smaller ship were said to be missing at sea.

At least 11 other sailors - all from Slovakia - were rescued, according to reports on Israeli radio.

Emergency crews said one woman from the passenger ship had suffered a minor injury, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

Military helicopters have been drafted in to help search for the missing sailors.

The collision was believed to have been an accident, possibly caused by a malfunction in the navigation equipment on the smaller vessel.

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Originally posted by jeffrossatsea:
is'nt "salamis glory" the ex "constellation" from k-lines hellenic cruises?.....jeff

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According to the Haifa port information and local newspapers the ship is still in the port of Haifa with her passengers on board while an inquiry is held into the accident.

What should have been a two day cruise could turn into them being stuck there for a week or longer depending on the time this takes !

I can see other cruise lines could start to boycott calling at Haifa.

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What should have been a two day cruise could turn into them being stuck there for a week or longer depending on the time this takes !

I can see other cruise lines could start to boycott calling at Haifa.

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what a bullshit!!
the damaged ship :"shelly" is an israeli ship own by Caspi shipping. the problem was with the old Salamis Glory - not with the Cargo ship as BBC reported. do you really think a port aoutority will release a ship involved in an accident in its teritorial water?!
and look - 3 maritime incidents all made by greek/Cypriot captains:
1.Sea Diamond sunck in Santorini
2.Ocean Monarch vs Thomson spirit in the fjords
3.Salamis Glory

that tells omthing i think.....

and @Elad:
OCEAN MAJESTY instead of MONARCH ..

[ 09-01-2007: Message edited by: Karsten ]

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do you really think a port aoutority will release a ship involved in an accident in its teritorial water?!

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Elad,

that was not the question. The question was why the passengers apparently have to remain onboard. Or do you think they were responsible for the incident?

The Israeli authorities can arrest the ship for sure, but do they honestly want to keep the poor passengers arrested, as well?

Best,

The passengers on this ship have done nothing wrong they were just on a cruise.

Therefore the authorities should be letting them enjoy their holiday.

As I said before this sort of attitude will not encourage other cruise companies to visit Haifa as passengers will not wish to visit the port and city when they can be forced to over stay their intended visit time and have the rest of their holiday spoilt.

There is nothing wrong with the Greek or Cyprus cruising companies running older cruise ships which are well maintained.

However with anything mechanical things can and do go wrong as can even happen with a new car !

Most of the Israeli cruising companies also run older second hand cruise ships some of which are over thirty five years old !

Neil ( Bob )

[ 09-01-2007: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

Salamis Glory still remains in the port of Haifa with what is thought to be steering gear problems.

On the Salamis company website the service is now shown as suspended.

The ship is over 45 years old but had a re-fit last year.

Could this now be the finish of these cruises and the end of the ship.

i think the 2nd option is better - it will be unresposable and unprofessional step - if Haifa has let the ship go

[ 09-04-2007: Message edited by: PamM ]

Have they disembarked? or still aboard? If aboard, is this because of the Haifa authorities not permitting them to leave, or becasue no arrangements have been made for them to get home by Salamis?

Nothing has so far been published which proves the ship has fatal problems.

It is only thought that she might have had steering problems.

It has been reported on some website news services that some passengers have been flown back to Cyprus but there have been no reports, so far, that all passengers have returned.

I do not know why, but you seem to avoid answering a direct question about the passengers and if any are still on board !

since the Salamos Glory is the hiting ship, no matter if it caused by human error of one of her officers, steering problem , any other fatal probelem etc. etc - Salamis Line sjould take responsibility and make all arrangments in order to bring the passengers home safe.

i cant believe Haifa's port holding the passengers - why would they do that??? those passengers all have passports and besides (if any) few passenger that in order to enter Israel should have special visa
everybody is free to enter Israel (unless the ship is holding their passports)

I have been away for a while but I know that all passengers were flown back to Cyprus with a special Cyprus Airways flight during the following night.

How do you know the passengers where flown home the next night as this was not the report in the Haifa newspapers.

Haifa port information now shows the ' Salamis Glory ' as departing at 14.40 hrs on the 9th September 2007.

The destination is not shown.

Although the other ports are listed for cruises the Salamis website is still not showing any cruises to Haifa.

I wonder if they have decided to cancel future cruises to that port.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Panos

How do you know the passengers where flown home the next night as this was not the report in the Haifa newspapers.

Neil ( Bob )

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