MS Express Samina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Express Samina was a RORO passenger ferry (built in 1966) that operated in Greece and sank in the evening (23:02) on Tuesday 26 September 2000 near the island of Paros. Eighty-two of the over 500 passengers (473 passengers and 61 crew members according to Discovery Channel) were lost at sea. The fact that the crew did not help the passengers evacuate the sinking ferry contributed to the death toll.[citation needed]
The Samina ran aground on a well-known islet after the crew set the ferry on auto-pilot, leaving the bridge. They deployed two stabilizers to counteract the waves; a mechanical failure caused only the starboard stabilizer to deploy, causing the ship to drift to starboard. In addition, the autopilot was not designed to compensate for the drift caused by the stormy weather on that day. The ship crashed into the two large rocks known as the Gates of Paros, creating a long gash on the starboard side above the water line. When the stabilizer hit the rock, however, it created a second hole in the ship below the water line near the engine room. Water flowed into the engine room, knocking out power and preventing the water tight doors from being closed remotely. As nine out of the ship's 11 water tight doors were left open (a breach of safety procedure, and the law), the water was able to flood the ship, causing it to list to starboard, and eventually sink 45 minutes after first impact. Once she had rolled to a 14 degree angle, water was able to enter the first gash, thereby ensuring the ship would sink. Passengers were apparently unaided by the crew in evacuating, and there was wide-spread panic among them. It was questioned later if the crew were engaged in a televised sporting event at the time. Inflatable life rafts blew away in the windy conditions as soon as they were inflated, before anyone could board them; only four of the ship's eight solid lifeboats were able to be launched before the ship's tilt prevented further launches. Some passengers also jumped from the ship, while ten bodies were found still trapped in the hull.
On November 29, 2000, the manager of the company Minoan Flying Dolphins committed suicide by jumping from his sixth floor office window. He had been charged with criminal negligence in conjunction with this ferry disaster, and had been the focus of much media attention. A subsequent coroner's report revealed alcohol & anti-depressants in his system at the time of his death. There was no note, but media reports hinted at a possible call made before he jumped. Several crew members, as well as representatives for the owners, were subsequently charged with different criminal charges, including manslaughter and negligence. The trial commenced late July 2005.
First officer Tassos Psychoyios was sentenced to 19 years, while Captain Vassilis Giannakis received a 12-year sentence. Three crew members were sentenced to between eight years and 15 months for a series of misdemeanours that included abandoning ship without the captain’s permission. Two senior officials from ferry operator Minoan Flying Dolphins – which had been renamed and restructured since the disaster – were each given 51 months in prison for negligence.
There have been some positive effects, including a change in legislation; ferries are retired after thirty instead of thirty-five years now under Greece's new laws precipitated by this tragedy.
[edit] References
- Mayday (TV series)
- Adriatic and Aegean ferries - F/B GOLDEN VERGINA
- Fakta om Fartyg - M/S CORSE (Swedish)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
