A video grabs shows the Greek-registered
Sea Diamond cruiser sinking off Santorini April 6, 2007.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
ATHENS,
April 7 (Xinhua) -- A prosecutor on the Greek Aegean island of Naxos on Saturday
launched legal proceedings against the captain of the ill-fated Greek cruise
ship Sea Diamond, which sank off near the island of Santorini at dawn on Friday
after striking a reef on the previous afternoon.
According to Athens News Agency, prosecution concerns
causing a shipwreck through negligence, causing pollution to the sea through
negligence and failing to apply international regulations on avoiding
collisions.
The prosecutor will also refer the captain to an
investigator as a result of the two French nationals who have been reported
missing, a 45-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter.
All the remaining senior officers of the ship who had
been brought before the prosecutor have been released.
The Santorini Port Authorities were carrying out a
preliminary examination on Friday, while the captain, the Second Mate, the
helmsman, the first officer and four crew-members were giving their statements
to shed light on the causes of the accident.
In his statement, the captain said that he was
overconfident when the ship was entering the port, adding that he overestimated
the capabilities of the ship when it approached the reef buoy.
However, he said that up to the last moment he tried
to avoid the collision but in vain. This was his maiden voyage as captain with
the Sea Diamond. ‘‘
ATHENS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Rescue teams are still
searching for two people, a 45 year-old Frenchman and his 16-year-old daughter,
passengers of Sea Diamond cruiser, which struck a reef half a mile off the
Aegean island of Santorini and started listing till it finally sank at 06:00
Friday morning. Full story
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. Full story
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