Cruise Ship Sinks...

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The Mediterranean cruise ship, Sea Diamond, that struck a volcanic reef and forced the evacuation of hundreds of tourists sank on Friday, April 6th, 15 hours after it began taking on water off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. A Frenchman and his daughter were missing, officials said.

Passengers on Thursday climbed down rope ladders to coast guard boats below in a three-hour rescue that involved Greece's military, commercial ships, and the island's local fishermen. About 700 of the 1200 passengers on the five-day cruise were American, many of them students. There were also groups from Canada and Spain.

Authorities said two French passengers — a 45-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter — had still not been accounted for.

Tourism Minister Fanny Palli Petralia said she had spoken with the missing passenger's wife.

"The lady said her cabin filled with water when the ship struck rocks and that she narrowly escaped," Petralia said. "She was not sure whether her husband and daughter made it out because things happened so suddenly ... in a few seconds. Her other child was up on deck and was evacuated safely."

Those rescued said most people remained calm though there were some tense moments.

The Sea Diamond struck rocks in the sea-filled crater formed by a volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, which some archeologists have long thought responsible for the demise of the Minoan culture to the south on Crete, as well as Biblical plague stores in Egypt.

The 469-foot Sea Diamond was operated by Louis Cruise Lines, part of a Cyprus-based tourism group. The Merchant Marine Ministry said 1,195 passengers and 391 crew members were on board.

"Whoever is responsible for this will be held accountable in the strictest way," Petralia said. "Greece is a major tourism destination and incidents like this must not be allowed to occur. ... Authorities handled the rescue very well."

The Sea Diamond was built in 1986 and refurbished in 1999.

While we have no idea why the vessel struck a reef, it is a reminder that connecting an autopilot to a chartplotter with waypoints plugged in is asking for trouble. It is also a reminder that there should always be at least two people awake and paying attention on the bridge of recreational boats.