In a recent ruling by the Piraeus Mixed Jury Court, the captain and first officer of the Blue Horizon ferry have been sentenced to imprisonment following the drowning of passenger Antonis Karyotis in September 2023. The first officer received a 12.5-year sentence for manslaughter, while the captain was sentenced to 7 years and 5 months for permitting the vessel's departure after the incident. Both individuals were ordered to commence their sentences immediately, as the court denied requests for suspension.
On September 5th, 2023, at Port Piraeus-Athens, 36-year-old Karyotis attempted to board the Blue Horizon ferry bound for Heraklion (Crete). As the vessel was departing and the stern ramp was still lowered, Karyotis ran to board. A crew member confronted him, and during the altercation, Karyotis was pushed off the ramp into the harbor waters. He was subsequently caught in the ferry's wake and drowned while crew members and passengers observed. Despite the incident, the ferry continued its journey and returned to port ~40 minutes later, only after receiving orders from authorities.
Prosecutors charged 4 crew members: the captain, first officer, second officer, and boatswain. The first officer was convicted of manslaughter and received a 12.5-year prison sentence. The captain was found guilty of allowing the ferry to depart after the fatal incident and attempting to cover up the crime, resulting in a 7-year and 5-month sentence. Both sentences were reduced due to the individuals' previously clean records; however, the court refused to suspend them. The second officer and boatswain were acquitted after video evidence showed their limited involvement during the altercation.
The incident led to significant political consequences. Greece's shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, resigned following public outcry over his comments regarding the event. Additionally, Spyridon Paschalis, the CEO of Attica Group, which operates the Blue Horizon, stepped down from his position.
This case has prompted discussions within the maritime industry concerning crew training, passenger safety protocols, and the responsibilities of ferry operators. The incident underscores the need for stringent adherence to safety regulations and the importance of immediate and appropriate responses to emergencies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
You can read more about the incident on the ship's CruiseMinus page.