The travails of a Seajets-owned cruiseship as it sat unemployed off Greece are characteristic of the unexpected logistical problems faced by shipowners at the country’s ports.

The 57,100-gt Aegean Majesty (built 1996) broke its moorings during gale-force winds as it lay at anchor at Corinth port, as TradeWinds reported earlier this month.

The ship, formerly the Veendam until it was sold earlier this year from Carnival Corp's Holland America Line fleet, drifted out of control before grounding on a sand bank within the harbour area — without suffering any damage or causing environmental problems.