PAN.PARAVOUNIOTISSA

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Ferry refloated and towed to fishing shelter of Nea Stira

The 'Panagia Paravouniotissa' has been refloated on the evening of Aug 7 by the tugs 'Protug 18' and 'Vernicos Skafi II', assisted by an anti pollution vessel of the Greek Coast Guard. The salvage company had maintained buoyancy with an air compressor, which pressed air into the cracked compartments. Divers had detected multiple tears in the hull along a length of 10 to 15 meters. The ship-owning company had previously submitted the salvage plan, and the relevant permits were granted by the Port Authority, while earlier, a classification society inspected the ship and found no damage to the rudders, as the captain had claimed. The ship then sailed unassisted to the fishing shelter of Nea Stira, where it was safely moored in pos. 38° 10.48' N 024° 12.28', escorted by the tugs and two patrol boats. Subsequently, an inspection was carried out, where there were no further observations except for the bow crack at starboard side, on which sealing work had been carried out. An oil boom was also placed as a precaution. The 1st Port Department of Nea Stira of the Karystos Port Authority prohibited the ship from sailing until the presentation of a seaworthiness certificate from the monitoring classification society. I After the arrival in port, 35 cars and three motorcycles were offloaded on the late evening in order to be returned to their owners. The cause of the accident was being investigated by the judicial authorities as well as by the shipowner's inspectors, the ship's surveyor and the ship's insurers. Naval architects and experts were constantly on the scene recording all data for the assessment of the damage, while the passengers of the ship were preparing to file lawsuits. Reports with photos and video: https://hellasjournal.com/2025/08/xekinoun-oi-diadikasies-apokollisis-tou-ploiou-panagia-paravouniotissa-apo-tin-xera-pou-prosaraxe-anoichta-ton-styron/ https://www.libre.gr/2025/08/07/rigmatoseis-vrethikan-sto-kitous-tou-p/ https://www.tovima.com/society/grounded-ferry-boat-towed-to-safety-on-thur-evening/

Refloating attempt underway

On Aug 6 at 1.30 p.m. the salvage operation commenced in order to try to refloat the 'Panagia Paravouniotissa', which had run aground on a reef n the Euboean Gulf, near the coast of Evia island. The tug 'Vernicos Scafi II (IMO: 9314349) tried tp pull the vessel off, and divers were conducting underwater inspections and supported the operation. On aug 7 the tug was joined by the 'Protug 18' (IMO: 8410213), which had left Ampelaika on Aug 6. Attempts wree being made to move the vehicles inside the ship, so that the bow could be raised from the rocks. Technicians have boarded the ferry to assess the extent of the damage. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The captain of the ship that ran aground off the coast of Nea Styra appeared before the Chalkida prosecutor.to give his statement regarding the incident. During his testimony, he said he did not see the reef and that the ship’s rudders jammed. The captain remains in custody by order of the investigating judge at the Chalkida Port Authority, facing charges of causing a shipwreck through negligence. He has been granted a deadline to give a formal statement on Aug 8. Passengers noted a general lack of direction from the captain and its crew, saying that they helped themselves to life jackets and self-organized while waiting to be rescued. Reportsswith photos and video: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1277370/operation-underway-to-dislodge-ferry-grounded-off-evia-coast/ https://www.thenationalherald.com/captain-of-greek-ferry-that-ran-aground-faces-port-authority/ https://www.avgi.gr/politiki/509846_tessera-eyloga-erotimata-gia-tin-prosaraxi-toy-feri-mpot-poy-zitoyn-peistikes?amp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnTQAZRdh80&t=2s https://www.cnn.gr/ellada/story/489930/ypo-kratisi-o-kapetanios-tou-feri-bot-pou-prosarakse-se-ksera-sta-nea-styra https://www.athensvoice.gr/epikairotita/ellada/917782/upo-kratisi-o-kapetanios-tou-feri-bot-pou-prosaraxe-se-xera-sta-nea-stura/ https://toedolio5.gr/2025/08/06/archise-i-epicheirisi-rymoulkisis-tou-feri-bot-pou-prosaraxe-ston-evvoiko-vinteo/ https://www.npress.gr/greece/ypo-kratisi-o-ploiarchos-tou-feri-bot-pou-prosaraxe-sta-nea-styra/ https://www.newsbomb.gr/ellada/story/1669980/nea-styra-kollisan-ta-pidalia-den-eida-tin-ksera-ti-eipe-stin-apologia-o-ploiarxos https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/08/07/nea-styra-ferry-grounding-crew-panic/

Divers found large damage area

Divers sent down to evaluate the state of the hul of the ' Panagia Paravouniotissa'm have found localized damages on a length between 10-15 metres,meaning that it was not a large continuous crack, but damages on this total area. Some repair work will have to be done before refloating the ferry. The ship has a double hull, that prevented it from sinking. The crew members have remained on board in order to participate in the salvage efforts. A specific detachment and towing plan is needed to continue the salvage operation. Besides the two tugs, an anti-pollution vessel and a Coast Guard vessel were at the scene on Aug 7. Many of the passengers were staying in hotels in the area, waiting for the ship to be refloated, so that they can get cars and personal belongings and continue their journey and vacation. Many of the passengers have complained from the very beginning that there was no official information about the incident and that they themselves found life jackets under the seats, without any guidance from the crew. Reports with photos and video: https://popaganda.gr/newstrack/greece-newstrack/paramenei-kollimeno-stin-xera-to-ploio-panagia-paravoyniotissa/ https://www.naftemporiki.gr/maritime/1991172/nea-styra-tis-epomenes-ores-to-schedio-apomakrynsis-toy-ploioy-apo-tin-xera/ https://www.ethnos.gr/greece/article/376270/entostonepomenonoronhmetaforatoyferimpotpoyepesesexeraginetaiapokatastashtonzhmion