Samaria-I Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On January 20, 2025, the Port Authority of Chania received reports about a group of migrants stranded on a beach northwest of Gavdos. Responding swiftly, officers from the Gavdos Port Authority arrived to discover 27 individuals in need of assistance. The following morning, an additional 21 migrants were found, bringing the total to 48. All individuals were transferred to a shelter within the municipality of Gavdos, where they were reported to be in good health. They were later boarded onto the 'Samaria I', which successfully transported them to the port of Chora Sfakion. Following their arrival, the migrants were placed in a shelter in Agia Chania. A preliminary investigation into the incident is currently underway by the Central Port Authority of Chania.

On June 15, 2024, at approximately 9:00 AM, the Port Authorities of Chania, Paleochora, and Chora Sfakion received an alert regarding a vessel carrying a significant number of passengers located three nautical miles southwest of Gavdos. In response, a patrol boat from the Gavdos Coast Guard was dispatched to the area. Upon arrival, the officers identified a wooden boat with 43 migrants on board, making their way to Karave port in Gavdos. The migrants were safely transferred to the coast guard vessel, the 'Samaria I', and initially transported to Chora Sfakion. From there, they were moved to a temporary holding facility at the port of Souda. The Central Port Authority of Chania has launched a preliminary investigation and has since confiscated the wooden boat used for the migrants' journey.

On May 15, 2024, at noon, the Paleochora Port Authority received an urgent report regarding an allision involving the ferry 'Samaria I' during its mooring operation at the pier of Skala Paleochora in Chania. The incident occurred as a result of unexpected gusts of wind and the presence of high waves, leading to the ferry making contact with the pier. Initial assessments revealed that the vessel sustained a breach approximately ten centimeters in diameter and around fifty centimeters long on the bow bulkhead, located half a meter above the waterline. Fortunately, all passengers and vehicles were able to disembark safely, with no injuries reported and no signs of marine pollution detected at the site. The Paleochora Port Station, which launched a preliminary investigation into the occurrence, has temporarily prohibited the 'Samaria I' from setting sail until it obtains a seaworthiness certificate from the relevant classification society, ensuring compliance with maritime safety regulations.