MS Sea Diamond

The Sea Diamond under its old name " Birka Princess" in 2005 in Stockholm

• Birka Princess (1986-2006)

IMO no. 8406731

The Sea Diamond was a former ferry, which was converted into a cruise ship and sailed under the Greek flag. She ran in early April 2007 in the vicinity of the port Athinios the Cycladic island of Thira (Santorini ) in the Aegean Sea aground and sank.

History

The ship was originally one on the Finnish Valmet Oy shipyard built in 1986 for the Birka Line ferry, which came as Birka Princess in driving. Since it was used primarily in the area of ​​Fährkreuzfahrten in the Baltic Sea, it received the second highest Finnish ice class A1 during construction. It was rebuilt by the Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven from the ferry in a pure passenger vessel in 1999 and 2006 to the Maltese Elona Maritime Co. Ltd.. sold. The ship was bereedert by the Core Marine Ltd. in Piraeus, which operated the ship for the Louis Cruise Lines. The ship was used by Louis Cruise Lines for multi-day cruises in the Aegean.

Accident

On April 5, 2007 around 16:00 clock the Sea Diamond collided in good weather and calm seas when maneuvering in the caldera of Santorini with an underwater reef. There are conflicting reports about the exact location either east of the center island Nea Kameni or 200 meters west of the main town Thíra. By the inflowing water, the ship heeled over 10 degrees, but stabilized after the Scots were closed.

The damaged vessel was dragged down by the reef towards the east, which in some places is considered an error, because after about 2.5 nautical miles trolling in southwestern direction from the scene of the accident, the ship could have stayed there perhaps there by a specific stranding between Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni on the largely constant depth can be saved by 20 meters.

On the morning of 6 April 2007, the ship sank before the town center Thíra. The captain called strong currents that would have pushed the ship onto the reef, as the reason for the accident.

The shipping company was first that all 1,167 passengers and 391 crew members were rescued and taken to Santorini. Two French passengers, a 45 - year-old man and his 16- year-old daughter, remained missing. Dives into the ship and the cabin of passengers brought no knowledge of the whereabouts of missing persons. The wife and 4 -year-old son were rescued.

The wreck of the Sea Diamond is located at a depth of 60 m (bow) to 150 m (stern) on a submarine slope.

Follow

Against the captain was under investigation for negligence. He and three other crew members were arrested. A report published by the Greek merchant shipping ministry on April 10, 2007 is, among other things of human error. Early November 2007, it was announced that a faulty chart could possibly have been the reason for unhappiness. So experts had determined that the reef, unlike in the chart shown, did not extend only up to 57 meters, but up to 131 meters off the coast of the island.

The depth data apparently did not vote in the chart. Should confirm to the experts, this could have an impact on claims for damages levied by the Greek State against the owner of the ship. Also, compensation would be payable in case of doubt by the Greek State, whose naval the data was collected, which were listed in the chart.

After 4 months of Criminal period end of July / beginning of August 2013, nine leaders convicted by a court in Piraeus in the first instance to prison, all appealed. The main responsibility of the captain to 12 years imprisonment, the others, including a representative of the shipowner to 2-8 years. Four other defendants, including three crew members were acquitted.

On 24 June 2008 the wreck was declared by the European Commission, at the urging of Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to waste. Thus, the Greek Government and the shipping company can be prosecuted on European environmental law if they allow long-term contamination with toxic waste. In June 2009, the oil was pumped out of the wreck, the wreck has not yet been recovered.

Gallery

Images of the original Birka Princess a week after her maiden voyage in April 1986.

Birka Princess main staircase

Birka Princess on the quay in Stockholm