A preliminary investigation is underway into the accident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon (5/8), when a ferry operating a regular route ran aground in the area of Nea Styra in Evia. The ship’s captain has been brought to the competent port authority investigating the case and is expected to appear before the prosecutor. Meanwhile, a video has been leaked capturing the moment of confusion on deck, with passengers searching for life jackets on their own, without receiving clear instructions.
Nea Styra Evia: Ferry captain who ran aground to face prosecutor
According to an announcement from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, the competent prosecutor has already been informed about the failure of the passenger ferry “PANAGIA PARAVOUNIOTISSA” owner company to respond to the required refloating and salvage actions, although more than 14 hours have passed since the incident occurred. According to the ministry, “until this morning, no specialized company has been assigned to develop and submit a Refloating and Salvage Plan for approval, a fact that raises serious concerns for safeguarding citizens’ property and protecting the marine environment.” It should be noted that the captain did not inform the competent authorities about the grounding as required. “The Unified Coordination Center for Search and Rescue (UKSED) of the Hellenic Coast Guard, after repeated attempts, managed to contact him by phone approximately ten minutes after the incident,” the ministry states.
Video evidence shows ferry passengers wearing life jackets
At the same time, new video footage of ferry passengers wearing life jackets comes to light:
“No one from the company has approached us here to offer an apology”
Meanwhile, passenger Athina Apostolopoulou spoke to ERT television about the moments of anguish experienced by passengers of the ferry that ran aground at Nea Styra. As she mentioned, there was no action from the company, the captain, or the crew, and she emphasized that no one has informed them until now. “We are waiting at the port of Nea Styra, no one from the company has approached us here to offer an apology.” Regarding how the accident happened, Mrs. Apostolopoulou stated that about a quarter hour after the ferry had departed from Nea Styra port, she felt a sudden maneuver and immediately after the collision occurred, with the ferry shaking.
Then a noise was heard and the ship listed, with the captain trying to “unstick” it from the shore by running the engines forward for quite some time. “Absolutely no one, I emphasize, came to give us any information whatsoever (…) None of us kept our composure. We were all frightened because we were completely in the unknown. Our anxiety was further intensified by the fact that no one appeared to make us feel some security, that someone would be here to help us,” she said characteristically. She clarified that it was the passengers’ initiative to go down to the salon and get life jackets. “There was absolutely no guidance either on how people should put on life jackets or whether they would lower any lifeboats,” she said. And she added: “From that moment until eight o’clock, some private boats came, which helped the people.” However, she emphasized that all this was done from the ship’s garage, from a telescopic ladder, where people climbed on it and jumped into the boats.
