Cruise Captain Arrested After Passenger Falls Into Sea in Corfu

A 56-year-old Italian cruise ship captain was arrested in Corfu on the evening of June 30 after a wind-related mooring failure sent a New Zealand passenger into the water at the Greek island port. The 56-year-old woman was rescued by ship crew and port workers and treated at a local hospital for “minor injuries to her face and body,” the Hellenic Coast Guard said. Authorities did not identify the ship, name the captain or state when the passenger fell. The Coast Guard said an investigation is continuing. In its July 1 release, the Coast Guard attributed the accident to “strong winds prevailing in the area.” The agency said the cables holding the cruise ship failed in those conditions, after which the passenger boarding ladder moved away from the pier and the passenger fell into the sea. The release did not say whether she was boarding or leaving the vessel when the ladder shifted. Corfu’s cruise operations are centered at Neo Limani, the New Port terminal on the island’s eastern coast about 1.5 to 2 kilometers west of Old Town. The Coast Guard release did not specify the berth involved. Greek maritime authorities did not immediately provide additional comment beyond the July 1 release.