A tourist sailboat with seven people on board lost control while entering the port of Kalamos, a small island in the Lefkada regional unit of the Ionian Sea, on Thursday, slamming into the pier and dragging several moored vessels along with it.
No injuries were reported, according to authorities, despite footage of the incident that quickly spread online and showed a chaotic scene on the dock.
What the video shows
The clip captures the sailboat moving steadily, and seemingly uncontrollably, toward the pier in the moments before impact. Bystanders can be heard shouting for the captain to reverse the engine as panic set in among people gathered on the dock. One voice in the video can be heard yelling that “the cable snapped,” suggesting the boat may have experienced a steering failure as it approached the harbor.
The vessel, which sails under the Greek flag, ultimately struck several boats tied up at the pier. None of those boats had anyone aboard at the time, which authorities and witnesses have credited for the absence of casualties.
Investigation underway
Following the collision, the sailboat’s captain was taken to the Lefkada Port Authority, where standard procedures for maritime incidents are being carried out. Greek port police typically review such cases for mechanical failure, navigational error or possible negligence, though authorities have not yet released further details on the cause.
