Archipelagos

  • English
  • Ελληνικα
Who We Are
The TeamThe Team
Research BasesResearch Bases
Research BoatsResearch Boats
Our EquipmentOur Equipment
PartnersPartners
SupportersSupporters
Fields of Action
Marine ConservationMarine Conservation Fisheries Shipping Risks Seagrass Meadows Coralligene Conservation Littoral Ecosystems Invasive Species Jellyfish Sea Turtles
Marine MammalsMarine Mammals Dolphins and Porpoises Whales Seals
Terrestrial ConservationTerrestrial Conservation Island Fauna Forests & Flora Freshwater Ecosystems Aegean Seed Bank
Laboratory ResearchLaboratory Research Microplastics Water Analysis Soil Quality
Projects
Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary
Eco-Navigation
FIsh4Life
Save the Aegean
Join Us
Internships in the Aegean
Remote Internships
Interns Experiences
Field Courses
News
Mass stranding of 12 Cuvier’s beaked whale on the North-West coast of Cyprus
Mass stranding of 12 Cuvier’s beaked whale on the North-West coast of Cyprus
Tragedy in Turkey and Syria
Tragedy in Turkey and Syria
Interactive Activities for the Protection of the Sea
Interactive Activities for the Protection of the Sea
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
View All...
Contact us
Publications
Videos
Awareness Material
Donate
Menu

Sea Diamond – An Abandoned Toxic Waste for 14 years on the seafloor of Santorini

Sea Diamond – An Abandoned Toxic Waste for 14 years on the seafloor of Santorini

by Kleopatra Delaveri / Tuesday, 13 April 2021 / Published in News, Press Releases, Shipping Risk

Fourteen years after the Sea Diamond sunk taking with it 3 human lives and after it was abandoned on the sea floor of Santorini, it continues to corrode and release dangerous toxic substances in the marine ecosystems. Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has been on the side of the local community since the first day of the sinking, stressing the need for the removal of this toxic waste. After 14 years of inaction, mockery of the citizens and inadequacy of the national authorities, the only conclusion is that the defense of the public interest has never been a priority for the political leaderships in Greece.

Brief overview of the non recovery of the Sea Diamond:

  • The shipwreck remains for 14 years hanging on a steep cliff on the seafloor, even though it has been characterized as a “toxic waste”.
  • 14 years later and it still continues to pollute the marine ecosystems, in one of the most important marine regions in the Mediterranean,
  • Apart from the petrol and its by-products that end up in the water surface as they have never been removed, key pollution hazard are the water soluble toxic substances that originate from the corrosion of the toxic materials that are contained in the Sea Diamond wreck. Although these materials continue to pollute daily, the pollution is not visible in contrast to petrol, but is still extremely dangerous.
  • According to research by the Technical University of Crete, a sample of fish that was collected from the area of the wreck contained very high concentrations of dangerous heavy metals including mercury and cadmium,
  • The ship-owner company (based on Marshall Islands) benefited from 6 million dollars for its insurance in order to pump the petrol contained in the wreck. It is indicative that out of the 145 cubic meters that were presented as the petrol that was removed, analysis of samples in the General Chemical State Laboratory, was shown to contain 99% sea water and only 1% petrol.
  • The ship-owner received 55 million dollars from the insurance for the total loss of the ship, a ship that was purchased 2 years prior to that for 35 million dollars. Soon after, a new ship was purchased which continues the same cruises as the Sea Diamond. In contrast it is interesting to compare this management with other equivalent cases of wrecks aboard: In the case of the Costa Concordia that sunk in 2012 in Italy, the Italian authorities forced the ship-owner to recover the wreck within 14 months paying over 1 billion euros for its removal and eventually recycling.

Consequently the message we give as a country to every ship owner of this level of moral is that the sinking and abandoning of ships in Greek waters is a profitable business – since anywhere else on the planet (both in Europe and the US as well as in the so-called developing countries) most shipwrecks are recovered almost immediately to avoid pollution.

  • In 2011 the «International Action for the Environment and Culture of Santorini», Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation and the municipal authority of Oia of Santorini, appealed to the Greek Council of State on the issue of the hazard due to the non-salvaging of the wreck·         The decision 1820/2019 of the Greek Council of State, according to which the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy has an immediate and independent obligation to initiate the lifting procedures of the Sea Diamond, is defiantly ignored by the national authorities. This is happening although big international companies for shipwreck salvaging have submitted relevant offers in 2019, in a process that was halted from the Ministry Of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, for reasons of jurisdiction.
  • The incredibly slow and inefficient legal process that started over 10 years ago and is yet to be completed, seems to impact not those who caused this wreck and have so far only benefited from it, but all of us who are called to attend every court case in Piraeus, to testify as witnesses, from Archipelagos Institute, from the citizens’ organizations of Santorini island and from the Technical University of Crete, with great effort and cost, and until now not having reached any result.
  • Even today in the port of Santorini, one of the busiest touristic ports of the Mediterranean, no measures have been taken for over 14 years to avoid or manage a possible future case of a cruise ship or other equivalent accident.

In conclusion, the abandoning for 14 years of the dangerous shipwreck of the Sea Diamond proves once again that the defense of the public interest has never been a priority for the political leaderships in Greece. Is it an inability to manage, or just a service to interests?

We leave this to the citizens to decide.

0
0
0
0
0

What you can read next

From the Aegean all the way to LA…
Protecting Biodiversity in the Unknown Aegean Islands
The Aegean on the International Map of Science Education: Knowledge Supports Conservation and Development

HIGHLIGHTS

  • International Visitors at the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary Project

    International Visitors at the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary Project

    1 June 2021
    At Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation an important visit took …
  • The Efkranti Award was Granted to the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation

    The Efkranti Award was Granted to the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation

    27 July 2020
    It was a great honor but also great moral support …
  • The President of the Hellenic Republic’s visit to Archipelagos research vessel, the Aegean Explorer

    The President of the Hellenic Republic’s visit to Archipelagos research vessel, the Aegean Explorer

    30 June 2020
    Yesterday, during the President of the Republic’s visit to the …
  • Award to Archipelagos: Best Heroic Act of Environmental Stewardship

    Award to Archipelagos: Best Heroic Act of Environmental Stewardship

    19 February 2020
    The Short Documentary Film presenting the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary, …
  • Award to Archipelagos Institute from the International Propeller Club of the United States

    Award to Archipelagos Institute from the International Propeller Club of the United States

    6 February 2020
    We would like to thank the International Propeller Club of …

Recent Posts

  • Mass stranding of 12 Cuvier’s beaked whale on the North-West coast of Cyprus

    Mass stranding of 12 Cuvier’s beaked whale on the North-West coast of Cyprus

    15 February 2023
    Twelve Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) have been found stranded, …
  • Tragedy in Turkey and Syria

    Tragedy in Turkey and Syria

    15 February 2023
    Our past week of silence across social media amounts to …
  • Interactive Activities for the Protection of the Sea

    Interactive Activities for the Protection of the Sea

    23 December 2022
    Before the closing of schools for Christmas break, students from …
  • Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

    Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

    20 December 2022
    Cuvier’s Beaked Whale in the waters of the North Aegean …
  • From dawn in the open sea

    From dawn in the open sea

    8 December 2022
    From dawn in the open sea, having 2-3 hours until …
  • Archipelagos in the 8th Meeting of the Members of ACCOBAMS

    Archipelagos in the 8th Meeting of the Members of ACCOBAMS

    2 December 2022
    The 8th meeting of the members of ACCOBAMS (Agreement for …
  • The International School of the Sea – Action Continues during the Winter Months

    The International School of the Sea – Action Continues during the Winter Months

    1 December 2022
    As winter is approaching, Archipelagos’ International School of the Sea …

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation is committed to researching and defending the biodiversity of the Greek seas and islands.

Our action is possible only with your help!

donate
  • Contact us
  • Placements

Archipelagos - Institute of Marine Conservation © All Rights Reserved || Web Design and Development by Red Web Design & Fekas Brothers

TOP