Vessel | : | Cruise Ship “SEA DIAMOND” |
Date | : | 6/4/2007 - 18/5/2007 |
Place | : | Santorini Island (Aegean Sea) - Greece |
Casualty | : | Sinking & Sea Pollution – Antipollution Operation |
With 1560 passengers onboard, the CRUISE SHIP ‘’SEA DIAMOND’’ ran aground onto a charted reef, tearing a hole in her hull off Santorini Island on April 6th. The vessel took a dangerous list and sunk some 15 hours later to the deep sea (150m sea depth), causing an oil slick. The result was a substantial, instantaneous spill of fuel oil as the vessel’s partially-loaded fuel tanks imploded under the quick pressure change. The cruise ship capsized as it sank and then hit the sea bed relatively hard, rolling back onto its hull in a nearly upright position. This resulted in significant internal and some structural damage to the vessel. Oil spread through the ruined decks, cabins, and internal debris. More than half of the ship’s fuels (410tons fuels, 70tons lubricants) were observed to have risen from the wreck within the first days and weeks. Initially under the contracted salvor Tsavliris – who was finally released due to the change of casualty’s nature (from salvage to wreck removal) – and later under the instructions of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Poseidon dispatched immediately to the scene her Oil & Debris Skimmer Vessel ‘POSEIDON IV’ for skimming purposes. Poseidon also participated to the cleaning up operations and protection of the sea environment by deploying oil containment booms & absorbent materials.
