Nine Convicted in Fatal 2007 Sea Diamond Cruise Ship Sinking

Photo shows attempts to prevent the stricken cruise ship from sinking

Nine people – ship officers and shipping company officials – have been convicted of negligence in the April 2007 sinking of a cruise ship off the island of Santorini.

According to the Houston Chronicle, a Greek court enforced suspended sentences Wednesday ranging from six months to just over 12 years, and acquitted another four defendants.

The strictest sentence of 12 years, 2 months was handed down to the cruise ship’s captain for causing an accident, negligence that led to manslaughter, and marine pollution.

Photo: Empty life rafts automatically released in the water, now covered with oil slicks from the Sea Diamond.

Louis Hellenic Cruises' Sea Diamond, carrying about 1,600 passengers and crew, hit rocks off Santorini's cliffs in April 2007 and sank two hours later. Two French passengers were never found and are presumed dead.

The accident could have led to hundreds of deaths, said the legal representation for Santorini authorities. The court still showed leniency in the sentencing without explanation.