The Kavala Port Authority in northern Greece has launched an investigation and begun sanction proceedings against the captain and loading personnel of a ferry after a disabled child was reportedly forced to travel in the vessel’s scorching garage during a heatwave.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, July 23, during a route from Thassos to Keramoti, sparked outrage after a passenger’s complaint was widely shared online.
The Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, instructed the Kavala Port Authority to investigate this “violation of General Port Regulations.” The Port Authority has issued “strict recommendations” to the ship’s Master, specifically citing his failure to ensure the child and their companion were placed in a “suitably designed space” that offered safety and dignity.
In response to the incident, the Central Service of the Ministry has ordered an intensification of controls, particularly on open-type passenger-carrying ships, to ensure compliance with regulations for the unhindered movement of people with disabilities.
Related: Life for the Disabled in Greece a Constant Struggle
Second complaint reveals pattern of neglect on Greek ferries
Disturbingly, this incident is not isolated. Just 24 hours prior, another passenger publicly reported a similar experience involving her elderly mother, who suffers from heart and kidney disease. Her mother was also forced to travel in the ferry’s garage on a plastic chair under “exhausting hot conditions,” receiving no assistance or interest from the crew.
The daughter recounted how her mother, recovering from a hospital stay and awaiting open-heart surgery, had requested access to a wheelchair lift or a proper seat. However, she stated the crew was “neither trained nor interested,” with “no one knowing how the mechanism worked or simply not bothering.”
She expressed profound frustration, lamenting that her mother, and by extension their family, was “humiliated by people who have nothing to do with the concept of respect and humanity.”
Ferry companies under scrutiny
These complaints highlight a significant and systemic issue within Greece’s coastal shipping sector regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The frequency of such incidents, coupled with apparent deficiencies in infrastructure and crew training, underscores a chronic problem impacting human dignity and the fundamental right to equal travel access.
The Ministry of Shipping and Port Authorities are now facing increased pressure to significantly strengthen oversight and enforce existing frameworks for serving vulnerable passengers. Official announcements from the Hellenic Maritime Police and potential criminal prosecutions are anticipated as investigations continue into these serious allegations.
Related: Affordable Cyclades Escapes: A Guide to Budget-Friendly Ferry Tickets
