ATHENS – As tourists flock to Athens and head to the islands for vacations, ferryboat and Merchant Marine captains are raising alarms about the inadequacies and dangers present in many Greek ports.

A report from the Panhellenic Association of Merchant Marine Captains, which includes passenger shipping officers, highlighted ongoing issues in ports that remain unresolved despite Greece’s booming tourism economy. The report questions whether any of the tourism revenue is being allocated to improve port infrastructure.

The association pointed out a range of problems, from minor inconveniences to significant risks. These include insufficient parking spaces, ports where silt buildup over the years has made docking difficult due to shallower waters, and crumbling piers.

Additionally, the report emphasized the need for replacement of lighthouses and signaling devices, while also noting the unregulated anchoring of large cruise ships offshore and the poor condition of waiting areas for passengers.

The captains also warned about crumbling impact points for ships docking, with rusty steel beams protruding where cement buttresses have long deteriorated. Even basic maintenance issues, such as replacing lighthouse bulbs, have been neglected.

Local municipalities and port authorities claim they lack the funds for necessary repairs, despite tourists spending more than €20 billion ($21.87 billion) in 2023, with 2024 on track to surpass that figure.

There has been no immediate response from the Shipping Ministry or the government. The association noted that similar complaints have been raised in the past but have largely gone unaddressed.

Although a repair program with a budget of €324 million ($354.20 million) was approved to address more than 50 ports, funded primarily by the European Union, the problems persist. The funds are designated for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy.

The report specifically mentioned several islands, including Kea—also known as Tzia—which is just an hour from the port of Lavrio and a favorite destination for Athenians and Greeks looking to avoid overcrowded spots. However, the captains reported that Tzia’s pier is too short, the basin needs to be deepened, and better lighting for the jetty is required—issues echoed for other islands where ferries transport tens of thousands of tourists daily.

Regarding Paros, the captains warned that the increasing number of ships approaching the port of Parikia necessitates the expansion of docking positions to the northwest. They also stressed the need to regulate the traffic of tourist and pleasure boats in Parikia Bay.

“The anarchic, disorderly, unannounced, and unlimited traffic of the above-mentioned boats in Parikia Bay, where they pass through the mooring positions and the port basin for the execution of turning maneuvers of the ships to arrive at or depart from the marina, poses enormous risks of causing an accident,” the report stated.

At Kasos, the approach and safe mooring were described as “extremely precarious and dangerous,” with calls for the deepening of the port at Paros and the channel connecting the island to the Peloponnese.

The report concluded by stressing the need for stricter control of marine traffic “to avoid disorderly traffic, especially during the hours of passage of ships in the channel, which creates risks, especially when strong winds blow.”