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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-03-13
CONTENTS
[01] Stranded tour boat evacuated
[01] Stranded tour boat evacuated
The 280 passengers on board the stranded tour boat "Georgis", which ran
aground on an islet north of the island of Poros in the Saronic Gulf,
were all successfully evacuated onto other ships that came to its
assistance on Thursday evening. The passengers were taken to the Navy
training centre on Poros.
The "Georgis" ran aground on the small islet of Platia late on Thursday
afternoon. The ship had been carrying out a one-day cruise around the
Saronic Gulf islands.
Coast guard vessels were sent to assist, while other ships sailing
nearby also responded to the distress call. Also sent to the scene were
four Navy mine-sweepers and one torpedo boat, a C-130 aircraft, seven
helicopters.
The "Georgis" had set sail on Thursday morning from the port of Piraeus
and was scheduled to stop at the islands of Aegina, Hydra and Poros
before returning to Piraeus late on Thursday night. As yet, the reasons
that caused the ship running aground are not known.
Weather conditions in the area were excellent, with calm seas and blue
skies, allowing the evacuation of the passengers to be carried out
without great difficulties.
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