Passengers safe after Cyprus ship runs aground

All 1200 passengers and 400 crew on board the Cyprus-owned Louis Sea Diamond that ran aground off the Aegean island of Santorini Thursday have been rescued and are safe.

The cruise ship, that was sailing at near-capacity, suffered a hull breach when it ran aground one nautical mile from the port of Santorini, news reports said.

The Greek Ministry of Merchant Marine said that helicopters, military planes and other ships were taking part in the mass operation to get passengers and crew off the listing vessel.

The mainly American and German passengers were brought safely to shore using lifeboats and none of the passengers or crew were reported to be in any danger.

The 22,000 ton ship had left the port of Pireaus on Monday for a five-day island cruise and was due back at Greece‘s main port on Friday.

Many of the tourists were reportedly on the ship’s deck when the accident occurred taking pictures of the popular, picturesque island, news agencies reported.

Louis Hellenic Cruises, a subsidiary of the Cyprus-based Louis Group, inaugurated the fleet’s newest acquisition last May, that subsequently embarked on 3-day and 4-day cruises of the Aegean.

Louis’ latest acquisition was built in Finland in 1986 and fully refurbished in 1999 at a cost of 26 mln euros. Louis Cruise Lines bought the vessel for USD 35 mln and spent a further USD 10 mln for repairs.

The Sea Diamond can carry 1.250 passengers in 570 cabins.