A Greek Court of First Instance has sentenced nine people ranging from six months to 12 years in prison held as responsible for the sinking of the cruise ship Sea Diamond on April 6, 2007 after hitting a reef when the ship entered the harbor of the Greek island of Santorini. The accident killed two French citizens who were never found, Jean Christophe Allain, 45 years and his daughter Maud, aged 16 whose bodies were never recovered.

After four months of trial, the captain of the ship, owned by the largest Greek shipping company Louis Hellenic Cruises which had 1,195 passengers and 391 crewmen aboard - was sentenced to 12 years in prison over to pay a fine of 8,000 Euros. His second and the owner's representative on the island have received a sentence of eight years old, the pilot of the Sea Diamond two years and 10 months, the chief engineer two years and four months, the officer in charge of the security measures on board six months and a fine of 600 euro, an overseer 15 months and two officials of the Louis two years each. 

Lawyer Stelios Papandreopoulos, who represented Santorini local authorities, said the accident could have led to hundreds of deaths.