Corfu: Captain and the second in command of Italian-flagged ferry were arrested
Authorities arrested the captain and the second in command of the Italian-flagged ferry boat "Europalink", which crashed into an islet off Corfu early on Sunday morning suffering two large cracks on the side but whose passengers were evacuated safely at the port of Corfu.
The ship, which sailed safely to Corfu port late on Sunday, has been cleared of 366 vehicles, while 10 trailers, one bus and 11 semi-trailers were still on board.
Water was being pumped out while the Corfu Port Authority and the Europalink managing company have deployed a floating barrier around it.
A team of experts from the Shipping ministry's department investigating marine accidents is expected to go to Corfu within the day.
The ship was doing the Patra-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route, with 692 passengers, a crew of 70 and 306 private cars, when it crashed into the islet of the Peristeres group NE of Corfu for unknown reasons.
Some 451 passengers, along with 88 vehicles and 118 trucks early on Monday boarded the "Olympia" cruise ship; the rest of the passengers are still staying at hotels and will be transferred to their destination within the day.
