A number of news sources in Greece are reporting that a MSC cruise ship ran aground (note correction below) today at the southeast Greek port of Piraeus. Greek port authorities released the information.
There were no injuries or major damage arising from the accident with the Panama-flagged ship Magnifica, the port authorities said. Bad weather conditions were apparently a factor in the incident.
One news account says that maritime experts are currently investigating the accident, while most of Greece continued to be swept by storms today.
The cruise ship’s bridge cam at this time (image below) shows the cruise ship docked in Piraeus with calm conditions. In addition to the Magnifica, other cruise ships at the port of Pireaus today include the Rotterdam, Ruby Princess and the Constellation.
The Magnifica was reportedly carrying 2,469 passengers and 976 crew members.
If you have any information about the grounding, please leave a comment below or on our Facebook page.
November 20 2013 Update: A number of readers informed me that the cruise ship allided with the left breakwater at the port of Piraeus and sustained slight damage to the portside hull above the waterline. This Greek newspaper article confirms an allision and not a grounding. (Definition of "allision:" when a vessel strikes a fixed object; versus a "collision" when two vessel strike each other.)
You can see another photo of damage to the breakwater/pier here.
Very clear views of the damage to the breakwater and damage to the cruise ship can be seen here.
See video of the damage here.
See our additional photos of the damage to the interior of the cruise ship are here.
Photo credit top: http://www.tanea.gr/