I've never given much thought to this before, and frequently take ferries in Europe, but can anyone comment on any past accidents, general maintenance of ships, etc?

There was one in Aegean, to or from Paros, a couple of summers ago. From what I remember, it was one of the well known lines.

Ferries where in Europe? Small island to island ferries in Greek islands are a little different from the huge cruiser type ferries of the Baltic Sea.

The island-to-island ferries among the Cyclades are not little ferries. They generally start out in Piraeus and can end up as far south as Crete. Until I was on one, my thought was just a small boat going among the islands; far from it.

The accident I'm referring to took place just about 2 yrs. ago, 9/27/00 and involved a ferry that was 115 meters long and 4407 tons. There was talk that vessel was too old (to be retired the following year) and also that crew might have been watching soccer on tv. 60-70 people were lost. I was curious about this since I had a sketchy memory of it and just checked it out on google.

I didn´t mean those ships that go longer distances like Pireus-Crete (they are often old Baltic ferries). I meant the ones that traffic for instance between different islands in Dodekanesia.<BR><BR>I am not sure but I think there are some international safety regulations that ship companies have to follow. But of course something unexpected could always happen. But also plane and car accidents happen.

My advice to you is that you don't take an overnight ferry.Travel during the day and orientate yourself to safety exits and where the life jackets and life boats are.I am basing my advice on facts which came out during and after the Greek disaster in September of 2000.Oh and another thing when the ferry is pulling up to the dock don't rush to a stairwell crammed with people,because if it sinks you will be trapped. Sorry to sound so morbid but I was in Greece when the tradgedy occured. Luckily our ferry trips were over by then.