A maritime accident occurred on today at the port of Souda when a passenger ferry and a cargo ship collided. According to initial reports, the collision did not result in any injuries or marine pollution.

The competent port authorities have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the collision between the passenger ferry ‘Elyros’ and the Ro-Ro cargo ship ‘Iosif K’. According to the official Hellenic Coast Guard announcement, the Chania Port Authority reported that the ‘Elyros’ collided with the ‘Iosif K’ while departing from the port of Souda. A departure ban was immediately imposed on both vessels. The passenger ferry had a scheduled departure for Piraeus with 100 passengers, 118 crew members, 32 private cars, 74 trucks, and 7 motorcycles. Following standard procedures, the classification society monitoring the ship assessed the damage, conducted an inspection, and subsequently issued a certificate confirming that the vessel maintains its class and can continue its scheduled routes.

The cargo ship ‘Iosif K’ remains under a departure ban and is awaiting a full assessment by the relevant maritime inspection body.

The Port Authority is actively investigating the causes of the incident to ensure strict compliance with navigational safety rules. The Central Port Authority of Chania, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, has also initiated the process for imposing administrative sanctions. Minister Kikilias specifically requested that Vice Admiral Efstratios Drakoulis travel to Chania to handle the matter directly.

In response to the incident, George Vallis, President of the Panhellenic Union of Crews of Private and Professional Yachts, called for an immediate and thorough investigation. He raised critical questions regarding the operational coordination of the vessels’ movements and adherence to established safety procedures.

In a detailed statement, Vallis expressed deep concern over the collision. He questioned how such a serious incident could occur at the peak of the summer season in one of the country’s largest ports, asking who was responsible for the operational coordination and who authorised the simultaneous entry of one vessel and the departure of the other.

Vallis highlighted that specific safety rules govern arrival, departure, mooring, and unmooring procedures. He noted that managing vessel traffic within the port, prioritising movements, and coordinating them are the strict responsibilities of the competent port authorities. He stressed the necessity to investigate whether the prescribed procedures were followed, who made the relevant decisions, and whether there were any operational failures or mishandling.

Emphasising that the safety of human life at sea is a non-negotiable priority, Vallis urged for the swift completion of the investigation, the publication of its findings, and the assigning of responsibility where necessary. He also underlined the urgent need to strengthen vessel traffic management procedures in Greek ports to prevent similar incidents in the future.