Maritime labor unions are escalating their mobilizations at the port of Rafina, as following the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Sailors PENEN, the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Engineers (PEMEN), as well as the Panhellenic Union of Lower Engine Room Crews of the Merchant Navy “O STEFENSON”, also announced their participation in the 24-hour strike on Friday, July 3.
The strike on the passenger-vehicle ferry ships serving the port of Rafina will begin at 06:01 on Friday morning and will conclude at 06:00 on Saturday morning, July 4, while a strike gathering has been scheduled for 10:00 am outside the P/V Ferry “SUPER FERRY”.
The maritime labor unions argue that the situation at the port of Rafina has exceeded every safety limit, pointing out that the existing port infrastructure is unable to serve the current number of scheduled ships.
As they state, the port has only five berthing positions, while up to eleven ships are served daily, something which, in their view, creates serious risks for maritime workers, passengers, and residents of the area.
Particular reference is made to the practice of ships remaining outside the port, in sea areas which, according to the unions, are not designated anchorages, resulting in increased risks to navigation safety. At the same time, they argue that this situation leads to exhausting working hours, exceeding the prescribed rest hours, and crew exhaustion.
The unions assign responsibility to the Ministry of Shipping and the competent authorities, speaking of a lack of substantial planning and inadequate infrastructure, while emphasizing that congestion at the port also burdens the area's road network, with fuel tankers passing through the urban fabric and creating, as they state, additional risks for the local community.
At the same time, they point out that the situation becomes even more critical in view of the fire season, since, as they argue, there are no adequate and safe escape routes in the event of an emergency.
In their announcement, PEMEN and STEFENSON speak of intense competition among the ferry companies FAST FERRIES, GOLDEN STAR FERRIES and SEAJETS to increase their share in Rafina’s ferry market, stressing that maritime workers “will not pay for the shipowners’ competition”.
The two unions also criticize the majority of the administration of the PNO, arguing that it has not taken a position on the issues that have arisen at the port of Rafina.
Among the main demands they put forward are the increase of manning levels so that crew rest hours are observed, the creation of a safe anchorage with a ship rotation system under the responsibility of the competent authorities, as well as the upgrading of port infrastructure, with the immediate placement of an auxiliary tugboat at the port of Rafina.
SOURCE: ANA