Corfu News

Firefighters battling for a third day a blaze on a ferry sailing from Greece to Italy recovered on Sunday the body of a passenger listed as missing, Greek authorities said.It is the first reported fatality after rescuers managed to take at least 281 out of 292 passengers and crew to safety from a blaze which broke out on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia early on Friday.The ferry had been on its way to the Italian port of Brindisi from Igoumenitsa in Greece when it was engulfed…

Two people are trapped on a ferry that was engulfed in a blaze as it sailed from Greece to Italy early on Friday, the coastguard said, after scores of others passengers and crew members were rescued.A total of 239 passengers and 51 crew were onboard the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia when the fire broke out and rescue vessels had taken most of them to the island of Corfu where ambulances were waiting, the Greek coastguard added."We were woken up around 4:20 a.m. Within an hour we had left the ship ...

The Greek island of Corfu welcomed its first cruise ship of the new season on Tuesday, hoping much awaited tourists will help salvage losses incurred during 2020 due to the coronavirus.Corfu port authorities said some 600 tourists from countries including Italy, France and Germany were on board the Costa Luminosa, operated by Italy's Costa Cruises, and all safety measures were being adhered to in the port.Some of the passengers expressed their delight at being able to travel again."It's freedom, enjoying life, you really feel much better. You're not in prison anymore, you're free and that really does you good," said French tourist Robert Maran from Lyon.Greece opened its doors on Saturday to tourists from the EU and other key markets such as the United States…

MSC Cruises said a fire broke out aboard one of its vessels idled in Greece, on Thursday.The fire was reported at 3:42 p.m. local time aboard the MSC Lirica, currently in warm layup without passengers on the Greek island Corfu, and was put out by the ship’s two fire brigades and local emergency services teams by 6:58 p.m. No injuries were reported among the 51 crew members on board at the time of the incident, the cruise line said.MSC Cruises said the blaze originated from a starboard-side fiberglass lifeboat on the ship's sixth deck…

Switzerland-based MSC Cruises announced Monday that it will resume "full-experience" cruise operations on select ships in the Mediterranean starting from mid-August.The cruise lines flagship MSC Grandiosa will sail in the West Mediterranean from August 16 and MSC Magnifica in the West Mediterranean from August 29. The ships will be the first to implement a new health and safety protocol that has been approved by the relevant national authorities along the ships’ itineraries.Pierfrancesco Vago…

American/British-owned German cruise line AIDA Cruises announced that model and TV host Franziska Knuppe christened  AIDAmira in Palma de Mallorca.AIDAmira is the fourth ship in the AIDA Selection program, sailing longer itineraries to exotic locales, similar to her function for Costa.After a debut cruise in the Mediterranean until December 4, 2019,  the cruise line will take the new Selection ship to Sète in the south of France, the Catalan metropolis of Barcelona, and back to Palma de Mallorca.From May to September 2020 the AIDAmira will be sailing from Corfu on cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean.The itinerary takes in Athens, Santorini, Crete and Brindisi in Apulia. A separate itinerary calls in Malta, Sicily, Crotone in Calabria, Olympia and Cephalonia.

Euroseas  announced that it took delivery of M/V EM Athens, a feeder containership of 2,506 teu built in 2000 that the Company agreed to acquire last month from Euromar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that previously was partially owned by the Company. M/V EM Athens was acquired along with EM Oinousses, a feeder size containership also of 2,506 teu built in 2000. The Company also announced today that it exercised its option to purchase from Euromar two additional container vessels, the M/V EM Corfu, a feeder size containership vessel of 2,556 teu built in 2001, and the M/V Akinada Bridge, a post-panamax size container vessel of 5,600 teu built in 2001. The Company has secured financing for the acquisitions of the four vessels with a combination of debt and equity.

Euroseas announced that it signed a memorandum of agreement to purchase the M/V EM Athens and EM Oinousses, both feeder size containership vessels of 2,506 teu built in 2000. The Company also announced that it acquired the option to purchase from Euromar two additional container vessels, the M/V EM Corfu, a feeder size containership vessel of 2,556 teu built in 2001, and the M/V Akinada Bridge, a post-panamax size container vessel of 5,600 teu built in 2001 until September 30, 2017. The vessels are to be acquired for a combined amount of about USD 25 million from Euromar LLC (Euromar), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that previously was partially owned by the Company. The Company plans to finance the acquisitions with a combination of debt and equity.

1898 - During the Spanish-American War, USS Marblehead (C 11), along with auxiliary cruisers USS Yankee and USS St. Louis, engage the Spanish gunboat Sandoval and the shore batteries at Guantanamo, Cuba for 2 1/2 hours. 1917 - During World War I, U.S. submarine chasers arrive at Corfu, Greece, for anti-submarine patrols. 1942 - Just after dawn, USS Yorktown (CV 5) sinks after being torpedoed the previous day by Japanese submarine (I 168). 1944 - The construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages, also known as Mulberries, begins off the Normandy coast. 1944 - USS Susan B. Anthony (AP 72) strikes a German mine while approaching "Omaha" Beach to land reinforcements. After an unsuccessful effort to contain flooding, she is abandoned and, within a few hours, sinks.

Carnival Cruise Lines is to return to Europe next year with its biggest ship ever, the 3,936-passenger Carnival Vista. The Doral-based cruise line revealed details about the new 133,500-ton vessel. The ship, which starts sailing in May of 2016, will include the first IMAX Theatre at sea, an onboard brewery, a suspended open-air cycling ride called SkyRide and a family-focused hangout area. Indoor and outside seating will be available at some restaurants, a new feature for the line. For the first time in three years, Carnival will have a ship stationed in Europe when Vista launches in Italy. It will also have a 12-day voyage out of Barcelona, which will be aimed specifically at the UK market.

Almost 1,000 migrants arrived in Italy on a cargo ship on Wednesday after apparently being abandoned by its crew in the Adriatic Sea, the Italian Red Cross said. The mainly Syrian migrants were bundled off the Blue Sky M when it arrived in Italy in the early hours of the morning after it was first spotted near the coast of Corfu. Greece sent its navy and coastguard with a military helicopter to the scene on Tuesday in response to an alarm call about a possible incident on the Moldovan-flagged ship. Italian officials were airlifted onto the Blue Sky M after it left Greek waters to check it could navigate safely. The coastguard said there were 970 people on board when the ship arrived at the small port city of Gallipoli.

Four migrants were found dead on a cargo ship which was taken to Italy after apparently being abandoned by its crew in Greek waters, the Italian Red Cross said on Wednesday. The Blue Sky M was carrying an estimated 900 migrants when it was spotted drifting near the coast of Corfu on Tuesday. Greece sent its navy and coastguard with a military helicopter to the scene in response to an alarm call about a possible incident on the ship and Italian coast guard officials later boarded to check if it could navigate properly. Most of the people on board were Syrian, Red Cross spokeswoman Mimma Antonagi told Reuters from the province of Lecce where the migrants arrived. The exact number of people on board is still not known, Antonagi said.

Italian officials boarded a cargo ship carrying hundreds of migrants on Tuesday after it left Greek waters and headed towards the coast of southern Italy, the navy said. Three coast guard officers were landed from a helicopter to assess whether the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M was able to navigate safely. The vessel, which the navy estimates is carrying around 600 migrants, was spotted close to the coast of Corfu earlier in the day after authorities got an alarm call about a potential incident on board. Greek state television said the alarm had been raised because armed men were on board, but there was no confirmation from the defence or shipping ministries.

An Italian helicopter was flying to intercept a cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants after it left Greek waters and headed towards Italy, according to a statement from the air force. The Moldovan-flagged ship, Blue Sky M, was spotted close to the coast of Corfu earlier in the day after authorities got an alarm call about a potential incident on board. Greek state television said the alarm had been raised because armed men were on board, but there was no confirmation from the defence or shipping ministries. Greek naval and coastguard vessels as well as a military helicopter were sent to the scene, but the ship was allowed to continue into international waters after the captain assured officials the situation was under control.

A cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants near the Greek island of Corfu sent out a distress signal saying armed people were on board on Tuesday, Greek television reported.   Two Greek officials confirmed that a distress signal had been received from the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M but did not give further details on the message.   A Greek frigate, a coastguard vessel and a military helicopter were heading to the area, they added.   "We have information that it is carrying suspected migrants. It is sailing off Corfu," a shipping ministry official said.   Greece's SKAI television said as many as 700 people may be on board but other reports put the total at 400.   (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

A vessel that called for help off Greece is a Moldovan-flagged cargo ship believed to be carrying migrants, Greece's shipping ministry said on Tuesday. Greek state television earlier reported a passenger ship issued a distress signal because of armed people on board. The "Blue Sky M" was sailing off the island of Corfu, a shipping ministry spokesman said. The vessel was carrying hundreds of migrants, Greek television stations reported. Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou

Passengers aboard a car ferry that caught fire off the coast of Greece early on Sunday pleaded for help as rescue vessels struggled to approach the burning vessel in high winds and rough seas. The Norman Atlantic, carrying almost 500 passengers and crew and more than 200 vehicles, was 44 nautical miles northwest of the island of Corfu when it sent a distress signal after a fire started in the lower deck, Greek coast guard officials said. close. "We are burning and sinking, no one can save us," Nikos Papatheodosiou told Greek TV by telephone. "Please help us! Don't leave us," he said before hanging up. Cold winter temperatures would make survival in the sea difficult unless rescue came quickly.

A Greek ferryboat with Bulgarian passengers on board has suffered an accident near the island of Corfu. The ferry was traveling from Italy’s Ancona to Patras in Greece with 692 passengers on board and a crew of 80 people. All of the passengers have been transported to Corfu safely, according to reports of private TV station bTV, citing a relative of a Bulgarian passenger. According to preliminary reports of Greek media outlets, the ferry boat crashed into underwater rocks near Peristeres. http://www.novinite.com/articles/163514Greek+Ferry+with+Bulgarians+On+Board+Sinks+near+Corfu#sthash.3A0rHc2d.dpuf

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) the world’s leading maritime services provider, has launched an innovative series of travel apps for the cruise industry in Greece, covering the major ports and islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia, Corfu and Syros. Further apps will also follow to cover the entire region. Originated by ISS Greece, one of the leading cruise specialists, the free new travel apps will provide a complete digital guide through the islands and ports of Greece, from attractions and activities, dining, and shopping to transport information and a currency convertor, all with images and contact information. With a click of button, immediate local medical information can also be found, if users need to find a doctor or hospital shoreside.

Today in U.S. Naval History - June 7 1819 - Lt. John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam 1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols 1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown 1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast 1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.

For the first time in the 18-year history of Silversea Cruises, three of the ultra-luxury line's ships -- Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Spirit -- called in the same port on the same day. The historic convergence of the three ships took place today in beautiful Corfu, a Greek island renowned for its lush green hills and pure white beaches. Surrounded by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Spirit greeted each other by sounding their whistles as they sailed into this charming and sophisticated port.

1819- LT John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam   1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols   1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown   1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast   1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian   Source: Navy News Servic

Work is continuing in Fincantieri’s Marghera yard on the construction of the Costa Favolosa, the 15th member of the Costa fleet. Her funnel was recently installed: the same distinctive yellow funnel with the blue “C” that for over 60 years has graced every vessel in the fleet of Costa Cruises. Since the establishment of the brand in the 1940s, some 35 ships have sported the iconic Costa funnel. Like the other 14 members of the fleet currently in service, the Costa Favolosa will fly the Italian flag.