The captain and three crew charged with manslaughter in the sinking of the Greek ferry Express Samina testified before prosecutors on the island of Syros, the regional capital, yesterday, just hours after a second fatal sinking in the Aegean Sea.
The four are charged with manslaughter and also face charges of violating international rules on avoiding collision, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before the passengers. Meanwhile, an elderly US national died overnight after a chartered boat, the Zeus Three, ran aground and sank off the island of Naxos.
Mr Richard Ihde died while being taken to the Naxos health centre. There were 27 Americans on board, one German tourist, three Greeks and a crew of seven. Mr Ihde was the only casualty.
And from midnight last night 65 Greek ferries and cruise ships were to be confined to port for failing to meet safety requirements following the Express Samina's sinking on Tuesday. They had 20 days to meet EU requirements or have their sailing permits revoked.
The Zeus Three sank in relatively calm seas not far from Paros where the Express Samina went down, killing at least 79 people in gale force winds. Two more bodies were recovered by divers yesterday in the bar area of the sunken ship.