The death of a 20-year-old motorman on the ferry “Blue Star Chios” sparked a strong reaction from trade unions and halted operations at the port of Piraeus. The young man, who had worked on the vessel for only 15 days, suffered fatal injuries after becoming trapped in a hermetically sealed door.
❌ Seafarers’ unions PEMEN and STEFENSON accused the shipping companies of violating safety regulations. They declared a 24-hour strike, demanding a full investigation and measures to protect the crews.
💬 Unions claimed the incident was the result of systemic problems: exhausting work schedules, insufficient rest, and poor training.
❗️The protest, which began on September 25, paralyzed ferry operations in the country’s main port of Piraeus.
👮 Authorities detained the ferry’s captain and chief engineer on suspicion of manslaughter. They were released after questioning. Politicians, including representatives of left-wing parties, called the incident part of a worrying pattern of workplace fatalities in Greece.
Initially, the union blocked only the Blue Star Chios from leaving the port, but then a decision was made to call a general strike in Piraeus. The vessel will not leave port until the investigation into the incident is complete.
✈️ This is the second fatal accident involving Blue Star Ferries in recent times. Another seafarer was hospitalized with an electric shock while working on a ferry in the Adriatic Sea.
Seamen’s Club 🇺🇦 | #news