Retired Coast Guard Admiral Nikolaos Spanos attributed the incident to clear human error and delays in submitting the necessary refloating plan, speaking on ERT News’s Update program about the grounding of the ferry Panagia Paravouniotissa at Nea Styra in Evia. The former director of the Port Police and maritime expert emphasized that the management company bears full responsibility for developing and submitting the refloating plan.
“The management company bears direct responsibility. They have not yet submitted a plan, even though orders have already been given by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The company is obligated to do this immediately,” Mr. Spanos stressed, adding that in case of inaction, the state mechanism must intervene.
“If no diver is sent there’s risk of sinking during towing attempt”
He expressed concern about delays in the refloating process, telling program journalist Stavroula Christophilea that “if cargo is not removed from the ship, if no diver is sent to inspect the hull, and if the ship is not made lighter, there is a risk it could sink during the towing attempt.”
He was also critical of the crew’s behavior, stating characteristically: “The crew did not follow protocol – They panicked more than the passengers,” noting that they failed to follow any of the prescribed procedures:
“The crew followed nothing from the protocol. They panicked more than the passengers,” he commented characteristically.
According to protocol, as he explained, the crew who knew the route very well should have guided people to the assembly station (the lounge), where the responsible officer would inform them and prepare them for possible evacuation. “The captain remains on the bridge. Passenger guidance is done by the officers,” he said.
He made particular reference to the fact that the bridge radar appears not to have been operational at the time of the grounding. “I saw it in a video. The radar wasn’t working. This is a serious omission,” he said, adding that it’s unknown whether the ship was under manual navigation or autopilot.
