Greek Docking Accident Makes Headlines World-Wide

Someone once said, "When docking don't go any faster than you want to hit the pier." This is good advice that we have always remembered and now the captain of a Turkish high-speed ferry will remember the day -- last Thursday -- that he did not heed those words when docking on the Greek island of Kos. Reportedly five passengers were seriously injured, at least one with a broken leg, and 38 were sent to the hospital. In this age of joysticks and bow thrusters what was once a commonplace bumping of the dock evidently now makes world-wide news. En Garde, folks!

Note the chunk out of the starboard bow of the Aegean Cat after she hit the dock a little too hard -- twice!

From the Express.com. UK--

Thursday September 16,2010

By Natalie Kay

BRITISH holidaymakers on a day-trip to the Greek island of Kos told of their horror yesterday when their ferry smashed into a harbour wall. Some passengers panicked and jumped into the sea when the catamaran hit the dock as it came into port. Others suffered broken bones when they were thrown across the deck as the vessel crashed twice against the dock. Scores of the tourists had cuts and bruises as windows shattered throughout the vessel.

The Aegean Cat ended up tying up portside to without further incident.

Phil Simonetti, whose wife Dawn suffered a suspected broken nose in the collision, said: “There was so much blood everywhere it was like a battlefield.

“People suffered broken bones and whiplash injuries as they were thrown about as the boat slammed into the wharf.”

Brits on Holiday

The majority of the 209 passengers onboard were British. They had taken the Aegean Cat – run by ferry company Yesil Marmaris – from the Turkish resort of Didim for a daytrip to the nearby Greek island. Thirty-eight people were taken to hospital with injuries. Five were seriously injured but none was thought to be in a life-threatening condition last night.

Most are expected to return to Turkey as soon as they are released.

According to the Foreign Office, two Britons have remained in hospital overnight.

It is thought the boat, which can carry 415 passengers, suffered a mechanical problem at the end of the 45-minute crossing at 9.20am.

Efstathios Petalas, head of port security at Kos, said as soon as they realized the catamaran was “off mark” they sounded the alarm. He said: “The catamaran hit the dock once, continued to veer, then hit it a second time. These were severe jolts that caused damage to the hull and knocked passengers against hard objects and down to the floor. Some panicked and jumped into the sea.”

“Finally, it was able to safely approach the dock from the side. I was notified by phone and went there where I saw people injured from the impact. “I saw one child on board but she was not injured, thank God.”

Greeks Investigating

The Greek Ministry of Mercantile Marine said the port authority in Kos was investigating the incident. The Turkish captain was temporarily detained for questioning but was later released pending further inquiries.

The British Foreign Office said: “We will be offering consular assistance to British nationals at the hospital.”

A spokesman for holiday firms Thomson and First Choice, whose customers were among the injured, said: “The well-being of our customers is our priority at all times and our resort staff have been liaising with customers throughout the day and offering every assistance needed.”