Letter of protest to the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the Piraeus Port Authority from Epaminondas Stamatis, resident of Diakofto, Kythira.
KYTHIRA 23-10-2023
To
1)Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy. Directorate of Maritime Transport.
2) First Port Authority of Piraeus.
SUBJECT: Actions against citizens and passengers of the AGUA-JEWEL ship on the Kythira-Piraeus route.
Gentlemen
We hereby inform you of the following:,
The AGUA JUWEL ship, owned by SEA JETS, operates the route between Piraeus – Kythira – Antikythira – Crete, which is the only sea route connecting Kythira with the capital, on Thursday, October 19, 2023, on its return to Piraeus, completely arbitrarily, unethically, and outside any basic code of respect for passengers and businesspeople, it docked not at Gate 9, which is its normal and designated point of arrival and departure, but at Gate 1, located in the Drapetsona area.
This is an action that is repeated repeatedly, without any notification to passengers or citizens awaiting the arrival of the ship, and demonstrates, among other things, disrespectful behavior towards users of essential services in a well-governed state, which is in no way consistent with the organized operation of a modern port of national importance and European scope.
However, in order to understand the practical significance and implications of these arbitrary actions, I will give you some examples that I myself have experienced, along with other fellow citizens, both Greek and foreign. The distance from gate 9 to gate 1 (which, I repeat, is in Drapetsona) is approximately 4 km, which takes 30-40 minutes on foot, depending on age, companions, and luggage. The worst thing of all, however, is that the information is only available – visually, at least – once the ship arrives at the port. After that, it's all a matter of time, speed, and luck. The first losers are the passengers themselves, who, thinking logically, leave their cars at the point of departure to pick them up on their return, or to be close to public transport. Some had to pick up elderly relatives or young children, others had to pick up unaccompanied passenger cars or commercial vehicles and trucks. Others had unaccompanied luggage and goods. However, even if someone decides to use a private car or taxi, if one can be found, traffic must be flowing smoothly, which is rare on the roads around the port. The issue with foreigners, especially middle-aged and elderly people, is a clear discredit to tourism and the country as a whole. SHAME...!!! They look puzzled and try to understand what is happening. Who can explain to them why they have to go to Drapetsona in the middle of the night? The Port Authority is nowhere to be found, the company is non-existent and dangerously misinformed. A few minutes before docking, they answered the phone and said that the ship would go to Gate 9. The worst thing of all is that these are not random or unexpected events, but repeated, planned actions. We are not talking about fishing boats. In the country's largest port, there is supposed to be planning for space and time for safe and uninterrupted navigation.
I kindly request and hope that this time there will be someone competent to properly evaluate and address the issue.
We await your response regarding the notification of the residents of Kythira and Antikythira.
With respect
EPAMINONDAS STAMATIS
resident of Diakofto, Kythira
e-mail nontast@yahoo.gr tel. 6940409300
