On Nov. 2,2007 Louis Plc announced the findings of specialist company Akti Engineering, who provided a mapping of the area of the accident of the Sea Diamond, showing serious errors in the charts of the area.
The Hydrographic Office of the Hellenic Navy, which is the official government authority for conducting hydrographic surveys in Hellenic waters and the edition of nautical charts, carried out a new hydrographic survey of the area and its findings fully confirm those of Akti Engineering. More specifically, the results of the soundings performed by the Hydrographic Office have confirmed that the reef struck by MV Sea Diamond is actually located 131 meters from the coastline, instead of only 57 meters as was inaccurately marked on the official Hellenic Hydrographic Service nautical chart no. 423/8 with which all ships were equipped with. The erroneous chart depicted the depth at the point of impact as 18 to 22 meters when the surveys have now shown that in reality it is was between 3.5 and 5 meters.
The official findings confirm the ship owners’ position since the Akti surveys that based on the official chart which was in force at the time of the accident; the course of approach that MV Sea Diamond was following towards her assigned mooring position was passing over safe depths.
The Ship owner and the Ship Manager’s support of the master, his experience, qualifications and ability are confirmed in the result of the official findings.