Following a mishap during a vehicle loading procedure at a port on Andros Island, the master/captain of a ro/ro ferry is facing criminal charges, and the vessel has been temporarily sidelined pending an investigation.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening, August 15th, when the ferry Saonisos (IMO 9104627) was boarding passengers at Port Gavrio (Andros), amid rough weather conditions. Gale-force winds battered the 78-meter-long vessel as passengers approached the stern ramp. Video footage from the scene shows the ramp making only intermittent contact with the pier. A driver attempting to board a small vehicle encountered difficulties when the ramp's lip lifted, leaving the vehicle stranded, half on the ramp and half on the pier.
As the situation unfolded, the last few passengers hurried across the unstable ramp to board the ferry. Moments later, the vessel departed, leaving the vehicle behind.
The weather conditions were severe enough to pose a threat to the vessel's safety, prompting the master to pull away from the pier. Aware of the imminent departure, passengers and crew attempted to push the car back off the ramp before retreating into the ferry's hold.
A prosecutor subsequently determined that the incident posed significant safety risks, leading to the arrest of the master under Article 291 of Greece's criminal code for "dangerous interference with ship traffic."
The ship's operator Saos Ferries has since dismissed the master and suspended the operations of the Saonisos ship while the investigation is ongoing.