The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Friday, September 7, 2012

Boat sinks off Turkey,scores dead..[ 2920 ]

Boat filled with Syrians, Iraqis sinks off Turkey; scores dead

A fishing boat packed with Syrian and Iraqi refugees struck rocks and sank off the coast of western Turkey, drowning scores of people, Turkish media reported

Photo: Coast guard crews search for survivors after a fishing boat sank after hitting rocks off the western coast of Turkey on Thursday. Credit: Associated Press / Hurriyet

A fishing boat packed with Syrians and Iraqis hoping to reach Europe (Greece) struck rocks and sank off the coast of western Turkey, drowning scores of people, Turkish media reported Thursday.
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The boat sank off the Turkish province of Izmir, and the governor there said the death toll had reached 61, including 28 children and three infants, the Anadolu news agency reported. Turkish television showed rescue boats ringing the stricken vessel, which had sunk below the surface. Rescue divers worked to free people trapped underwater in the wreckage.
Turkish media reported that 46 people were rescued from the Aegean Sea, most of them Syrians and Iraqis who had hoped to reach Britain with the help of smugglers.
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The boat captain and his assistant survived and were detained by police, according to local media.
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Refugees from Syria have poured into Turkey and other neighboring countries. The numbers have been so vast that Turkey has left thousands waiting at its border as it tries to process all the newcomers. More than 80,000 Syrian refugees are already taking shelter in the country, the Turkish government said.
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Last week, the United Nations refugee agency reported that seven Syrians had died off the north coast of Cyprus while trying to escape by boat, a new and harrowing exit route. Those drownings were the first deaths of Syrians fleeing their country by sea that the U.N. agency said it was aware of, though earlier reports indicated that Syrians had boarded boats trying to reach Italy.
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The newly reported deaths off the coast of Turkey may indicate that more people are risking the dangerous waters as violence escalates in Syria and Turkey struggles to cope with the influx. Well before the Syrian crisis began, however, Turkey has served as a stepping stone for migrants from Asia and Africa hoping to reach Europe.

-- Emily Alpert in Los Angeles

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