The Hellenic Coast Guard has released footage showing the moment divers discovered a bag of cocaine concealed within the hull of a bulker near the Corinth Canal.
The checks took place on manager Lydia Mar Shipping's 24,100-dwt handysize Skyros (built 1998) at Kalamaki.
The video shows a diver opening a sea-chest grill under the vessel and pulling out a large black bag containing 46.7kg of the drug.
Lydia Mar told TradeWinds the check was carried out after the vessel arrived on Monday from Santarem in Brazil.
Brazilian authorities had acted on a tip off in that port and found two bags, but their information led them to believe a third bag was still concealed.
The ship was then cleared to leave for Greece.
Searches of the rest of the ship in both ports, involving sniffer dogs, failed to find any other narcotics.
A Lydia Mar spokesman said the crew of 23 were being interviewed by police as part of normal procedures.
Victims of criminal gang
"We have been the victims of criminal activity," the spokesman added.
He said the company has no experience of such matters and had carried out all due diligence.
"This is something you cannot avoid completely, no matter how careful you are," the spokesman added.
The cocaine was packed in 38 plastic bags.
The discovery came four days after Greek authorities seized more than 4 tonnes of cannabis in a container from Lebanon that were hidden inside industrial cupcake-making machines at Piraeus.
The shipment had been due to be transported to Slovakia.
