The listing Greek-flagged cruise ship Sea Diamond, carrying nearly 1,200 passengers and some 400 crew, is surrounded by rescue vessels at the old port on the Greek island of Santorini, April 5, 2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    BEIJING, April 6(Xinhuanet) -- Some passengers climbed down rope ladders to rescue vessels after a Greek cruise ship struck a reef Thursday in the Mediterranean and started listing, forcing the evacuation of 1,600 tourists, including many American students.

     In a few hours, all 1,153 passengers and most of 390 crew of the Sea Diamond were brought to shore. No injuries have been reported.

    Authorities said hundreds of American tourists, at least two school groups from Canada and more than 100 Spaniards were on the Greek-flagged Sea Diamond when it hit the rocks off the island of Santorini shortly before 4 p.m.

    "All passengers have been evacuated successfully, only a small number of crew remain to control the situation," Mihalis Maratheftis, a spokesman for the Louis Cruise Lines firm running the ship, said in an interview.

    There were 730 Americans, 112 Spaniards, 100 French and many other nationalities among the passengers, including Germans, Britons and Australians, the company said.

    "There were many students from U.S. colleges on educational trips," Louis spokesman Giorgos Stathopoulos told reporters. "We will conduct an investigation into what happened and how."

    Greek TV showed scenes of passengers climbing down the side of the listing ship on escape ladders and onto boats. Many were seen hugging each other and wiping away tears once they reached Santorini.

    Authorities said the 22,412-tonne ship ran aground close to the shore of the picturesque island, one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations.

    In September 2000, 82 people drowned when the Express Samina ferry hit rocks and sunk off the island of Paros, a disaster that led to a major improvement of Greek ferry safety standards.

    The first passengers abandoned the Sea Diamond on its lifeboats. Once the ship was stable, held by a tug boat and anchored, other passengers were quickly transferred to smaller vessels.

    The Sea Diamond left the port of Piraeus on Monday for a five-day island cruise and had been due to return on Friday, officials said.

    Local officials said a helicopter, military planes and fishing boats had rushed to the scene to help with the rescue.

    (Agencies)