Piraeus, Greece – Ferry crews in Greece have declared a 24-hour strike scheduled for September 13th, raising concerns about safety and labor conditions within the industry. The announcement comes in the wake of a tragic incident earlier this week at Piraeus, the country’s main port, where a passenger lost his life following an altercation with a crew member from the Blue Horizon ferry.
While the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation has not explicitly linked the strike to the recent tragedy, they have voiced profound apprehensions regarding industry safety standards and labor conditions. In a statement, the union deplored the alleged improper enforcement of shipping and harbor safety regulations and emphasized the issue of crew members being frequently overworked. Additionally, they pointed out that ferry schedules often impose “unreasonable” demands on the staff.
These concerns, as articulated by the union, pose significant safety risks for passengers, ships, and itineraries. The federation has called upon the government to take swift actions to ensure the safety of individuals at sea. They underscored the impeccable seamanship of Greek sailors and criticized the broad accusations leveled against all Greek sailors in light of the tragic event, deeming it “unacceptable.”
Furthermore, the federation highlighted the state of Greek ports, particularly those on the islands, characterizing their infrastructure as “literally left in the ’60s.” The tragic death of Antonis Kariotis, who was pushed into the sea by crew members at the Piraeus port, has sparked nationwide shock and anger. Thousands have participated in rallies in Iraklio, Crete, demanding justice and condemning both the crew involved and Attica Group, the ship’s owner, with chants of “murderers.”
A video of the incident circulated on social media, showing Kariotis attempting to board the ferry while the loading ramp was down. Crew members forcefully prevented him, leading to his fall into the sea. Despite passengers alerting the crew to the situation, the ferry initially departed as scheduled, and Kariotis’ lifeless body was later recovered upon authorities’ intervention.
The captain of the ferry and three crew members now face charges related to the tragedy, including homicide and manslaughter. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his profound dismay over the incident and vowed accountability and justice. An internal investigation into the handling of the incident by the Port Authority of Piraeus has been initiated, with authorities identifying violations concerning the loading ramp.
The strike announcement underscores the pressing need to address safety and labor conditions within Greece’s ferry industry, as the nation grapples with the tragic consequences of the Piraeus incident.
