Rafina port maritime workers stage 24‑hour strike over safety and infrastructure

Three Greek maritime unions – the Pan‑Hellenic Union of Commercial Navy Sailors (PENEN), the Pan‑Hellenic Union of Commercial Navy Engineers (PEMEN) and the Pan‑Hellenic Union of Lower Engine Crews ("STEFENSON") – announced a 24‑hour strike on the passenger‑vehicle ferries that operate from Rafina port.

The strike will run from 06:00 GMT on Friday 3 July until 06:00 GMT on Saturday 4 July, with an assembly planned for 10:00 outside the E/G‑O/G "Super Ferry" terminal. The unions claim the port’s infrastructure cannot safely handle the current traffic: only five docking positions exist while up to eleven vessels are serviced daily, forcing ships to remain at sea or anchor in non‑designated areas. They warn of over‑work, fatigue, insufficient rest for crews and heightened danger to passengers and the local community.

The unions blame the Ministry of Shipping and the port authority for inadequate planning and demand additional staff, a safe anchorage system, an auxiliary tug and broader infrastructure upgrades. They also cite intense competition among ferry operators – Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries and SeaJets – as a factor driving unsafe practices. The action aims to force authorities to address these safety concerns before the high‑fire‑risk summer period.