Ferry with Chinese evacuees docks in Crete
A Greek passenger ferry, the Eleftherios Venizelos, docked at the Cretan port of Iraklio on Wednesday morning with 2,146 Chinese nationals and one Greek, evacuated from strife-torn Libya.
Another Greek vessel, the Ionian Queen, is expected to arrive in Crete on Wednesday afternoon carrying 665 Filipino nationals.
Greece last week pledged to help China rescue up to 15,000 of its citizens from Libya ? about half of the North African country?s resident Chinese population ? as clashes between pro-democracy protesters and security forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gadhafi continue.
The rescue operation is a welcome boost for Greek shipping firms which are expected to earn some 20 million euros for their services, sources have told Kathimerini.
