Ships will remain tied up at the port of Rafina until 06:00 on Saturday morning, July 4, due to the 24-hour strike being carried out by three maritime labor unions, denouncing serious safety problems and inadequacy of port infrastructure.
Seafarers argue that the port has exceeded the limits of safe operation, as it has only five berthing positions, while every day it is called upon to serve up to eleven ships.
As they point out, several ships remain at anchorage until a berth is freed up, a situation which, according to the unions, entails risks.
The Single-Member Court of First Instance of Piraeus yesterday Thursday ruled the strike action illegal, accepting the request for interim measures filed by the Association of High-Speed and Cruise Ship Owners (SETAK). Despite the court decision, the maritime labor unions announced that the strike will proceed as planned.
Members of the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Sailors (PENEN), the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Engineers (PEMEN) and the Panhellenic Union of Lower Engine Room Crews of the Merchant Navy “O Stephenson,” are participating in the mobilization, along with the participation of the Lavrio Labor Center.
In the morning, a strike gathering was held outside the passenger-vehicle ferry “Super Ferry,” followed by a march of the gathered protesters toward the Rafina Port Authority.
SEAJETS routes from Lavrio
Meanwhile, SEAJETS is transferring its scheduled routes from and to Rafina for today, Friday, July 3, to the port of Lavrio, due to the 24-hour strike mobilization. The company announced that routes to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos will exceptionally operate from Lavrio, in order to limit problems in passenger travel and the ferry connection of the islands.
Specifically, “TERA JET 2” will depart at 09:50 from Lavrio for Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros, returning to the same port, while “CHAMPION JET 3” will sail at 11:00 for Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. At the same time, “SUPERRUNNER JET” will arrive and depart at 14:20 from Lavrio instead of Rafina, according to its approved schedules.
Passengers have already been informed by the company about the changes, while for more information they can contact the customer service department and local agencies.
At the same time, Fast Ferries announced cancellations of routes from and to Rafina to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos, while similar cancellations were also announced by Golden Star Ferries, due to the participation of the crews in the strike mobilization.
SOURCE: ANA-MPA