The Norman Atlantic tragedy unfortunately exposed the disorganization and inefficiencies of the state mechanism, as well as the responsibilities of the political supervisors. It is unacceptable that almost 72 hours after the tragic adventure the passengers and their relatives experienced at sea, for them to not know how many were saved, where they are and how many are missing. The Italian authorities that were in charge of the rescue mission coordinate obviously have a share in the responsibility. The responsibility for not knowing exactly how many were on board the ship lies with the Greek side – both the port authorities and the company that leased out the ship.
The heroic efforts of the rescue crews do not absolve the port authorities and their political supervisor from their liabilities. According to the testimonials of many rescued almost nothing worked properly on the ship after the fire broke out. Even the operations center was later to be informed, by a passenger no less. If we take into consideration the questions that arise after problems were noticed with the ship’s fire extinguishing system during inspection, it is clear that the Norman Atlantic’s safety suffered on many levels. Some are responsible for this.
The Minister of Shipping Mr. Varvitsiotis may offer reassurances that light will be shed and all parameters leading to the accident will be thoroughly investigated, but it is clear from the panic we witnessed that some of those in charge did not do their job properly. It would be useful if the Minister remembered what he himself said in Parliament about the sinking of the Samina. The Samina, he argued, revealed the extent of the state mechanism’s absence, inefficiency, entanglement, partisanship, arrogance and lack of responsibility.
Has anyone ever wondered if anyone is responsible about anything in this land?
Unfortunately very little has changed since then. The man responsible today was the complainant back then. Perhaps it is time that he addressed to himself those questions that he asked back then…
TO VIMA
