The Herculean Greek and Italian efforts to rescue passengers from the Norman Atlantic resemble a modern-day Odyssey. So far 316 of a total of 478 people on board have been rescued and another 162 people are on board as Super Puma helicopters try to rescue as many as possible.

49 of the ship’s evacuees, that included 25 Greeks, set sail for Brindisi. A C-130 plane of the Hellenic Air Force had traveled to Bridisi to gather the Greeks who were rescued. They appeared on Italian television looking haggard and retaining a number of burns.

Gail-force winds caused the Spirit of Piraeus to change its course and take the people rescued to the port of Bari.