A tourist vessel arrived in Kos from Kusadasi, Turkey, under extremely poor conditions for the 250 passengers on board — lacking even basic air conditioning. Two female coast guard officers intervened after discovering the unacceptable conditions aboard the vessel, subsequently earning public praise from Greece’s Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias.
Kos: Tourist vessel arrives from Kusadasi in appalling conditions — coast guard intervenes, Kikilias offers his “congratulations”
According to reports, the minister personally called both female officers as well as the port authority chief of Kos, and then went on to post about the incident on platform “X.” In his post, he wrote characteristically: “In Kos, two female coast guard officers stood by 250 people who had travelled under unacceptable conditions. And they brought them to safety and dignity. Once again. As they do every day, in every port, on every island, the women and men of the Hellenic Coast Guard keep Greece safe.” Concluding his message, Vassilis Kikilias added: “We see you, we appreciate you, and we are proud of you,” wrote the Shipping Minister.
Στην Κω, δύο γυναίκες αξιωματικοί του Λιμενικού μας στάθηκαν δίπλα σε 250 ανθρώπους που ταξίδεψαν κάτω από απαράδεκτες συνθήκες. Και τους έφεραν με ασφάλεια και αξιοπρεπείς συνθήκες. Ακόμη μια φορά.
Όπως κάθε μέρα, σε κάθε λιμάνι, σε κάθε νησί, οι γυναίκες και οι άντρες του…— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) August 11, 2026
According to sources, the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy intends to take similar action going forward, publicly recognising coast guard efforts that relate not only to passenger safety but also to ensuring the proper welfare of those travelling on board vessels in Greek waters.
