Greek government orders Sea Diamond wreck removal

The Minister of the Greek Merchant Shipping, Panagiotis Kouroublis, has ordered the removal of the wreck of the Κ/Ζ Sea Diamond cruise ship, which sank off the Greek island of Santorini ten years ago.

The 22,000-gt Sea Diamond, sank off Santorini in April 2007, after hitting rocks and two people were killed.

The wreck remains at the bottom of the sea of Santorini ever since and is now considered a threat to the marine environment, according to the Ministry.

Thus, after suggestion by the Public Port Authority, the Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis has decided to raise the wreck of the vessel Sea Diamond, ‘in line with environmental protection legislation’.

It was not revealed who will pay for the wreck removal. In 2011, Marine Affairs Minister, Yiannis Diamantidis, said that the government could not afford to remove the ships hulk and that the shipowner had to deal with it. Louis Cruise Lines, the owner of the ship, had firmly rejected any responsibility for the sinking.