Greek authorities and courts have launched their own probe into the MV Norman Atlantic ferry disaster, in which two Greeks are known to have lost their lives and many more are feared missing.
The incident is being investigated by the Greek government’s Marine Accidents Investigation Commission, Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis told a press conference.
“No human life lost will go without punishment for those responsible for it,” Varvitsiotis said.
Piraeus prosecutors have also launched a probe into the accident, in which a total ten people have so far been confirmed dead and dozens more could be missing.
The Greek probes are independent from those conducted in Italy, where public prosecutors in Bari, Brindisi and Lecce have begun a criminal investigation by focusing on Capt Argilio Giacomazzi and shipowner Carlo Visentini, say Italian media reports.
But Greek authorities played down the six deficiencies discovered on the ship in its latest inspection on December 19 in the port of Patras. Two of them had been corrected before the Norman Atlantic left port and the crew obtained a 14-day window to fix the rest, such as installing additional lighting in the engine room, more “you are here” signs as well as more signs directing passengers to the vessel’s muster stations.
Communications problems
A senior Greek coastguard official, however, admitted his operations room had communication problems with the Italian captain of the ship in the first hours of the accident early on Sunday, which is one reason why Italian authorities took over the rescue operations as they spoke the same language with the captain.
There is still no indication why the fire broke out on the ship, Greek coastguard chiefs said in a two-hour long press conference. The Norman Atlantic was carrying at least 19 trucks laden with olive oil, according to the officials. The fire is believed to have erupted on the ship’s car deck.
A total 201 Greek citizens have been so far rescued, the officials said. But it was still impossible to define the number of missing persons because lists of passengers, crew and those rescued are constantly being updated. According to the latest list provided by Greek ferry operator Anek Lines, which had chartered the Italian-owned ship, a total 475 passengers and crew were on board, including 266 Greeks. According to Italian authorities about 430 people have been rescued.