Initiative in Pancyprian level was taken today, with the cooperation of nine major clubs, in order to collect signatures in order to to stop the indifference of the competent authorities as to the choice of ship routed on the line Kythira-Piraeus. The Text signed by the nine clubs and citizens who participate online are addressed to at the Ministry of Maritime & Island Policy. The collection of signatures is done through the platform Avaaz operating in cyberspace.
The unions and citizens who sign the petition ask for the problem of the ferry connection to be solved immediately and put on the line a seaworthy and suitable ship capable of operating its services safely for all and consistently in all foreseen conditions. They also request the upgrading the port of Diakofti, so that it is safe for approaches in every situation.
The unions call on every citizen to sign electronically in order to «to make the voice of Kythera heard and to stop the island being at the mercy of arbitrary decisions of every shipowner and every competent body», as they say.
But read the whole text below and at the end there is a link where anyone can sign up:
SUPPORT US TO “FIND” THE CYPHRAS ALWAYS!
On the initiative of the Kythira bodies ·
* Kythira Potamos Cultural Association
* Portokalia Karava Association of Kythera
* Kytheraiki Brotherhood of Piraeus - Athens
* The recreational association of Mitata «Myrtia»
* Association of Public Benefit Projects of Mylopotamos Kythera
* Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development (KIPA)
* Melissa - Association of Kythera's Frillingians
* Cerigo - Kythera Island Accommodation Association
* Exotic Cultural Association «Agia Pelagia
We are collecting signatures to stop the indifference of the competent authorities regarding the choice of the ship to be used on the Kythera-Piraeus route
On May 21, once again and with a westerly wind of 6 Beaufort, the Aqua Jewel did not even approach the port of Diakofti, citing weather conditions, leaving passengers stranded inside the ship and in Kythera and Antikythera. This comes after the incident on 6 February 2024 of the existing ship (Aqua Jewel) grounding in Diakofti Kythera, which led to a month-long withdrawal, a multi-day traffic disruption and temporary solutions. Even if we accept that the ship had trouble in Diakofti, the island has other ports that are protected from this weather. It is not possible to arbitrarily not choose the alternative to serve travellers. Indeed, at a time when this situation is repeated often enough, and the alternative of Agia Pelagia has been used several times in the past in similar weather conditions. In the meantime the ferry has been back on the line, having again taken the «barren» - subsidised route. The competent authorities should take into account the peculiarity of the island's seas, the long distance that separates it from Piraeus, and the fact that the ship serves a large number of permanent residents, visitors, goods, as well as the line also connects with the Peloponnese (Gythio) and with Antikythera and Crete. It appears from the facts that the first requirement of the relevant tender («One (01) vessel which can operate the mentioned route» (ADA ΨΔΑΕ4653ΠΩ-E35) is not met.
In the tender for this barren-subsidized line, it is necessary, in addition to what is contained in the terms and conditions, to ask for clarifications, commitments and certifications that the selected ship can make the journey in a reasonable time (and not 6.5 and 7 hours as it does now) and to make sure that it has no problem to reach the port as long as there is no prohibition. Unfortunately things are far from what we are experiencing...
The problem we are reporting is not an isolated one. On the contrary, changes or even cancellations of Aqua Jewel's itineraries have been repeated and frequent over the last 2 years. This has had the direct result of seriously disrupting the economic and social life of the inhabitants of our islands and beyond. But nothing has changed.
We ask that the problem be solved immediately and that a seaworthy and suitable ship be put on the line that can operate safely for everyone and consistently in all foreseen conditions and not condemn the island to isolation in view of the start of the tourist season. Finally, we are also calling for the port of Diakofti to be upgraded so that it is safe for approaches in all circumstances.
Sign online so that our voice can be heard and our island can stop being at the mercy of the arbitrary decisions of every shipowner and every competent body!
Sources:
- In the same... boat «spectators”. We will never find Kythera - Kythera.News - Kythera News
- CYTHRA:AQUA JEWEL went and didn't go to the ship - ADELIN (adellinfm.blogspot.com)
- Here we go again! Aqua Jewel did not approach Diakofti today 22/5 - Kythiraika (kythiraika.gr)
