Heraklion News

A Greek cruise ship carrying more than 1,200 passengers and crew docked safely at the port of Piraeus after discovering a large crack in its hull, Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry said on Thursday. The crack, which is above sea level was discovered after the Aquamarine cruise ship left the island of Crete (Heraklion Port) for a tour in the Aegean with 872 Greek and foreign passengers and 407 crew. The official said all passengers were safe. 

This is the second incident involving a Greek cruise ship since the start of the year, after a small cruise boat ran aground about 50 km south of Athens in March. Last year, another Louis Lines vessel called the Sea Diamond, sank off the island of Santorini after hitting a reef near the port, forcing 1,500 passengers and crew to evacuate. Two French people went missing and are presumed dead. Louis operates a fleet of 13 cruise ships around the Mediterranean.