What Crew Members Say About Hellenic-Highspeed

On August 2, the Port Authority of Amorgos responded to a significant safety incident involving the Hellenic Highspeed ferry. As the vessel attempted to depart, one of its ramps unexpectedly fell, caused by a cut wire. At the time, the ferry was operating its regular route from Amorgos to Naxos, Paros, and Piraeus, carrying 39 passengers, 11 vehicles, two motorcycles, and a crew of 29. Following the accident, the ferry made its way to the anchorage at Katapola, where initial attempts to secure the ramp were unsuccessful. Eventually, with the support of a land-based crane, the ramp was restored to its upright position. The Amorgos Port Station temporarily halted the ship's sailing operations. However, after the crew presented a valid maintenance certificate from the overseeing classification society, the ferry was authorized for a single journey to Naxos, Paros, and Piraeus to safely transport passengers to their intended destinations. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no reported injuries or environmental pollution.

On February 4, 2023, the captain of the high-speed ferry 'Hellenic Highspeed' alerted the Port Authority of Paros about an anchor mishap during the vessel's departure for Syros. While navigating away from Paros, the anchor snagged an object, rendering it impossible to retrieve. In response, divers were dispatched to assess the situation but were ultimately unable to free the anchor, necessitating its abandonment. After an inspection carried out by an authorized inspector to verify its seaworthiness, the ferry proceeded on its journey and successfully docked at Syros, where all passengers disembarked safely. However, the Syros Port Authority imposed a restriction, preventing the 'Hellenic Highspeed' from setting sail again until a new anchor had been fitted and a subsequent inspection completed, along with the required classification certificate provided.

In the early hours of February 7, 2020, the Syros Port Authority received an alert regarding the 'Hellenic Highspeed'. The vessel, which had just departed from Kythnos and was en route to Syros, encountered a propulsion system failure in its starboard side main engine. This ship was on its scheduled route, which includes stops at Lavrio, Kea, Kythnos, Syros, Paros, Naxos, Io, Sikinos, Folegandros, Kimolos, and finally, Milos. At the time of the incident, there were 15 passengers and three vehicles on board. Upon arrival at Syros, the vessel was boarded by an inspector from the Local Ship Inspection Board. The Syros Port Authority subsequently prohibited the ship from departing until it could provide a certification from the attending classification societies. After meeting these requirements, the 'Hellenic Highspeed' was cleared for departure and resumed its journey.