It is widely known that for the last six 24 hours Kythera and Antikythera have no ferry connection!
It is unthinkable that a replacement ship has not already been launched from Piraeus. We are aware of the difficulties in this respect, but when there is no other solution for a connection, then the ’impossible« must necessarily become possible, because however restrictive the legislation on »liberalised shipping« may be, anyone who wants to defend the public interest can find legal solutions.
The Mayor's efforts are good in the context of his limited powers but not sufficient in the context of his role as the main representative of the two islands' society. With all due respect to his person and his institutional role, if it were not for the anthems directed at the Government, Ministers and the Regional Governor, his efforts would be even more credible and effective.
Already the «recruitment» of a transport vessel of the Navy for the transport of goods from Gythio is proving to be inappropriate and exposes everyone who inspired it. The vessel arrived late at the main port of Kythera, Diakofti, and cannot dock! It remains adrift, at least at the time of writing, and with uncertain progress, and waiting for two tugs to come to its aid. Amateurism unsurpassed!!! In fact, even if the boat does eventually dock, it will provide very little coverage for the needs of the island and its residents when they are multiplying with each passing day. A particularly critical issue is meeting the needs of the pharmacy and the pharmacy in necessary medicines that are already starting to go missing. There is no provision for this, given that the transportation of medicines is a daily operation and requires operational flexibility that no transport can provide.
The only and urgent solution is the replacement of the AQUA JEWEL with another suitable ship today! The Ministry and the company must respond immediately. There is no excuse for delay, given that the ferry service between Kythera and Antikythera is largely subsidised. The role and responsibility of the State, the government as a whole and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in particular is therefore both legally and in fact almost absolute.
In addition, we have already been informed that while the AQUA JEWEL ran aground in the port of Diakofti at about 7.00 in the afternoon, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the L.S.-E.A. Operations Centre were informed after midnight!!!!!!!!! If this is indeed the case, shouldn't some high level irresponsible people apologize?;
However, beyond the immediate and urgent need, common experience has already matured the equally urgent need for medium- and long-term planning to avoid the repetition of such maritime «accidents» in the future, which, as it turns out, are tragically predictable. The port of Diakofti in Kythera with westerly winds of more than 5-6 Beaufort is unsafe.
The time has long come for:
1. New port works at Diakofti, focusing on the inability to anchor safely in particularly adverse weather conditions.
2. Study and planning of projects and operational options in order to address the existing oddity that the port of Kythera can and should accommodate larger ships, while Antikythera, although it cannot accommodate them, should not under any circumstances reduce the adequacy of its service. This is indeed an intractable issue, but solutions must be sought and devised.
3. Establishment with strict guarantees of exceptionally mandatory docking in the port of Agia Pelagia, when the unfavourable special weather conditions make the Diakofti unsafe.
To sum up, three are today's essential but undeniable premises:
- Immediate lifting of the ferry blockade of Kythera and Antikythera with a suitable replacement ship and with the maximum possible acceleration of the re-routing of the ship «Porphyrousa» from Neapolis, which, as is known, has been temporarily withdrawn for the planned annual inspection-maintenance.
- Medium to long-term planning NOW for safe navigation, a prerequisite for the sustainable development of Kythera, Antikythera and the wider region.
- Seriousness and responsibility from the government that is completely absent and .... wanted!
