Most of the 475 passengers on a Greek ferry that hit a reef near the Aegean islet of Oinousses on Saturday returned to the main port of Piraeus early Sunday, the merchant marine ministry said.
'Most of the passengers reached Piraeus this morning on another ferry,' a ministry press officer told AFP.
'The majority are Greeks and we know there are some Russians on board, but operating company NEL Lines has not released a full passenger list yet.'
The ferry Theofilos changed course and had to be evacuated on Saturday evening after hitting the reef near the eastern Aegean islet of Oinousses.
A 20-metre gash was found in its hull below the waterline, but the ship's watertight compartments held and it only listed two degrees, the ministry said.
A cleanup operation was underway Sunday around the ferry to contain fuel that seeped out of the vessel during the incident.
But a preliminary checkup of beaches on Oinousses and the neighbouring island of Chios showed no sign of environmental damage, the ministry said.
The ship's 97-man crew are on board as repairs are underway to seal the breach so that the Theofilos can sail to Chios for a fuller inspection.
A prosecutor on Chios is expected to press charges against the captain and others deemed responsible for the incident later today.
The Theofilos is one of the ferries connecting the islands of Chios and Mytilene with the Greek mainland and it is high season for tourists in the Aegean.
Authorities in Greece are particularly sensitive to marine accidents after 80 people died in the sinking of the Greek ferry Express Samina after it hit two reefs eight years ago.
In April 2007, a cruise ship operated by Cyprus-based Louis Hellenic Cruises, the Sea Diamond, sank near the Aegean island of Santorini after hitting a reef.
Two French tourists were presumed lost in the incident, but around 1,600 passengers and crew were evacuated safely.
'Most of the passengers reached Piraeus this morning on another ferry,' a ministry press officer told AFP.
'The majority are Greeks and we know there are some Russians on board, but operating company NEL Lines has not released a full passenger list yet.'
The ferry Theofilos changed course and had to be evacuated on Saturday evening after hitting the reef near the eastern Aegean islet of Oinousses.
A 20-metre gash was found in its hull below the waterline, but the ship's watertight compartments held and it only listed two degrees, the ministry said.
A cleanup operation was underway Sunday around the ferry to contain fuel that seeped out of the vessel during the incident.
But a preliminary checkup of beaches on Oinousses and the neighbouring island of Chios showed no sign of environmental damage, the ministry said.
The ship's 97-man crew are on board as repairs are underway to seal the breach so that the Theofilos can sail to Chios for a fuller inspection.
A prosecutor on Chios is expected to press charges against the captain and others deemed responsible for the incident later today.
The Theofilos is one of the ferries connecting the islands of Chios and Mytilene with the Greek mainland and it is high season for tourists in the Aegean.
Authorities in Greece are particularly sensitive to marine accidents after 80 people died in the sinking of the Greek ferry Express Samina after it hit two reefs eight years ago.
In April 2007, a cruise ship operated by Cyprus-based Louis Hellenic Cruises, the Sea Diamond, sank near the Aegean island of Santorini after hitting a reef.
Two French tourists were presumed lost in the incident, but around 1,600 passengers and crew were evacuated safely.