Italy: Cruise ship M. detained. Eliopoulos, who was going to host police officers at the G7 summit due to “unfortunate” health conditions (photos)

Brindisi authorities seized the Greek cruise ship Mykonos Magic, which was in port to accommodate part of the large police force that moved to the area to ensure the G7 summit.

The cruise ship is owned by Marios Iliopoulos’ interests Seajets, and has sailed into the port of Brindisi from June 9 and operates as a floating hotel.

According to the Italian website Il Giornale, the authorities seized the ship after complaints from the police regarding sanitary conditions, while an investigation is being opened into fraud against the Italian public. Italian media reported that the government paid about 6 million euros ($6.46 million) to rent it for the duration of the G7 summit.

Italian police officers spoke of living conditions that do not match the honor and respect that befit a police uniform, noting that officers are required to perform their work in “inhumane conditions.”

“The conditions were miserable,” confirms Domenico Pianesi, a police trade unionist from the COISP union. Dirty and damaged accommodation, unusable toilets, broken bathrooms and flooded cabins.

According to La Repubblica newspaper, the air conditioners were not working either, which led to the police officers sleeping with the doors open in a temperature of more than 30 degrees, while at the same time water was falling on them from the ceiling.

Reuters reported that the officers were to be housed on board the Mykonos Magic ship – renamed the Goddess of the Night – which docked in the city of Brindisi, about 60 kilometers (37.28 miles) from Borgo Egnazia, a luxury resort in the southern Puglia region that will host the meeting. G7 on June 13 and 15.

According to the specialized website Marines.gr, “The cruise ship in question (built in 2004) was acquired by Seajets in February 2023 from Carnival Corp. It is considered the newest and largest cruise ship in its fleet. It is scheduled to contain 1,350 cabins, and can accommodate up to Up to 4,000 passengers and about 1,000 crew members.