The data recording device from a cruise ship that sunk off the island of Santorini earlier this month was sent to the US yesterday under heavy security.

It is hoped that data from the device – often referred to as a black box – will facilitate the investigation into the sinking of the Sea Diamond on April 5.

A prosecutor and coast guard officials took the box to a military airport under heavy security to prevent any possibility of anyone tampering with the device.

Investigators hope the data will help clear up confusion about why the vessel hit a well-marked reef, whether the sinking of the vessel could have been prevented and who decided the location to which the ship was towed before eventually sinking.

The device will be sent to New York and from there to Florida, where the data will be analyzed.