Cruise Ship Captain Investigated After 56-Year-Old Passenger Falls From Gangway In Greece

Greek authorities are investigating a cruise ship incident at the Port of Kerkyra on Corfu Island after a passenger fell into the water when the vessel moved away from the quay during strong winds.

The incident also led to initial reports that the ship’s captain had been arrested, a claim later denied by Norwegian Cruise Line.

The incident happened late on June 30 as one of four cruise ships docked at the port was preparing to leave.

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard and local media reports, strong winds caused the Bahamas-flagged ship’s mooring lines to snap while it was alongside the quay.

At the time, the gangway was still in place as passengers were returning from shore excursions. As the ship moved away from the berth, the gangway reportedly shifted, causing a 56-year-old woman from New Zealand to lose her balance and fall into the harbour.

Crew members and port workers quickly rescued the passenger from the water. She received first aid at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Corfu General Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries to her face and body.

Greek authorities initially took the ship’s 56-year-old Italian captain into custody as part of the investigation.

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, he faces allegations of exposing a person to life-threatening danger, placing someone in a helpless situation and failing in his duty of care towards passengers.

Investigators are now looking into why the ship’s mooring lines failed and whether the necessary safety measures were in place despite the strong winds.

The cruise ship was allowed to continue its scheduled voyage after the passenger was rescued and received medical treatment.

Norwegian Cruise Line later denied that its captain had been arrested.

In a statement, the company said one of its ships moved away from the pier because of strong winds while docked in Corfu.

It said the captain was asked to give a statement to local authorities as part of standard procedure and “was at no point under arrest or detained.”

The company added that the captain returned to the ship immediately after giving his statement to prepare for departure. It said the ship continued its voyage as planned, with only minor changes to its scheduled port call times.

The Hellenic Coast Guard’s investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to examine the circumstances of the incident and decide whether any further action will be taken.

References: Greek City Times, CruiseMapper