Ferry departures from Piraeus are continuing as normal, with five sailings from Rafina and three from Lavrio laid on to serve mid-August holiday travellers after the lifting of the sailing ban

Ferry traffic across the Aegean is gradually returning to normal after the sailing ban at the ports of Rafina and Lavrio was lifted from 16:00 on Friday, 14 August.

A total of eight sailings were scheduled to run from the two ports, five from Rafina and three from Lavrio, with route changes and additional departures laid on to accommodate the increased number of passengers travelling ahead of the mid-August holiday period. Sailings from the port of Piraeus are continuing as normal.

The following departures have been scheduled from Rafina:

16:00: Aikaterini P., to Tinos and Mykonos.
16:15: Fast Ferries Andros, to Tinos and Mykonos.
18:00: Superferry, to Andros.
18:45: Andros Queen, to Tinos and Mykonos.
19:15: Andros King, to Andros.

Three sailings were scheduled from Lavrio:

16:00: Superstar, to Andros, Tinos and Mykonos.
16:00: Terra Jet 2, to Tinos, Mykonos and Paros.
01:00 on Saturday, 15 August: Artemis, to Milos.

Passengers are advised to check with ferry operators or local port authorities before travelling in every case, as further changes may follow depending on how the weather develops.

What the National Meteorological Service says about the strong winds

Gale-force winds are affecting large parts of the Aegean, from the north-east and central Aegean to the Ikaria Sea, while strong winds are also being recorded in the Kafireas Strait, the southern Evia Strait, the Karpathos Sea, the Kythira Sea and the south-west Cretan Sea.

In the Kafireas Strait, northerly winds of force 8 to 9 are blowing, expected to settle at force 8 from 16:00 UTC on 14 August. The severe weather bulletin remains in force until at least 22:00 UTC.

In the southern Evia Strait, northerly winds are reaching force 8, and force 8 to 9 south of the 38th parallel. From 13:00 UTC, winds of force 7 to 8 are forecast, reaching force 8 in the south.

In the north-east Aegean, north-easterly winds of force 7 to 8 are prevailing. In the central Aegean, east of the 25° 40′ meridian, northerly to north-easterly winds are reaching force 8, later easing to force 7 to 8; west of the same line, winds are initially reaching force 8 to 9, later easing to force 8.

Strong winds are also affecting the south-east Aegean and the Ikaria Sea. West of the 25° 40′ meridian and south of the 37° 20′ parallel, north to north-westerly winds of force 7 to 8 are forecast. Further north, northerly winds are reaching force 8 to 9, later easing to force 8.

In the south-west Aegean, north to north-easterly winds are reaching force 7 to 8, with the relevant bulletin in force until 13:00 UTC.

In the Karpathos Sea, south of the 35° 20′ parallel, north-westerly winds of force 7 to 8 are blowing.

Similar wind speeds of force 7 to 8 are being recorded in the Kythira Sea, east of the 22° 30′ meridian, both north and south of the 35° 40′ parallel. In the northern section, the severe weather bulletin remains in force until 13:00 UTC, and in the southern section until at least 22:00 UTC.

Finally, in the south-west Cretan Sea, east of the 22nd meridian and north of the 34th parallel, north to north-easterly winds are also reaching force 7 to 8, with the severe weather bulletin remaining in force until at least 22:00 UTC on 14 August.