Greek judges have blunted the penalties faced by top officials of ferry company ANEK Lines over the fatal loss of one of their vessels more than seven years ago.

ANEK chairman George Katsanevakis and chief executive Ioannis Vardinoyiannis saw a Piraeus appeals court confirm their guilty verdict for negligence leading to serial manslaughter and arson on board the 26,900-gt Norman Atlantic (built 2009).