In a post, the mayor of Kythira referred to the Aqua Jewel collision incident:
Friends,
As you know, a few hours ago, the ship Aqua Jewel struck the protective breakwater at the Port of Diakofto on Kythira. Strong westerly winds, exceeding 8 bf, are blowing in the area. The ship safely disembarked all passengers and vehicles bound for Kythira, and the incident occurred during its departure for Kissamos.
The municipal authorities were informed by citizens (I will return to this matter once it has been successfully resolved).
From the very beginning until now, the following have been at the Port: Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection Yiannis Katsanevakis, Deputy Mayors Dimitris Kalligeros (Chairman of the Port Authority) and Panagiotis Zantiotis, Board Chairman Kostas Kapsalis, and municipal staff.
The Port Authority, despite the fact that it has not yet received any official notification, has, on my orders, placed the marine pollution response company with which it has a standing contract on high alert, in case we are asked to do so.
From the moment I was informed of the incident, I contacted both the relevant Deputy Minister, Mr. Yiannis Pappas, and the Chief of the Coast Guard, Mr. Georgios Alexandrakis, as well as a number of other officials.
The authorities' primary concern is, first and foremost, to safely refloat the ship so that it can be inspected and its seaworthiness certified.
Finally, I took took the initiative and contacted the owners of the PORFYROUSSA, which, as is well known, is currently in its annual layup period, in order to ensure that, under any circumstances, our islands of Kythira and Antikythira will not be cut off by ferry service from the ports of call until the problem at hand is definitively resolved.
