The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, spoke to OPEN about the operation to tackle the fire aboard the truck-carrier ferry “BLUE CARRIER 2” and the next steps for the safe management of the vessel.

“The first priority of the leadership of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the ministry was the safety and protection of human life,” Mr. Kikilias stressed, noting that all 28 crew members and the one passenger disembarked from the vessel and were safely transported to Tinos, all in good health.

As he said, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center took over coordination of the operation, in which forces from the Hellenic Coast Guard and Fire Service, tugboats and specialized companies participated.

“The situation today is under control. Based on the information available, we do not see any risk of pollution, and the vessel is being held in place by two tugboats,” the Minister said.

Mr. Kikilias noted that further technical management had been assigned by the shipowning company to a specialized Greek company, with the assistance of a seven-member team of Dutch experts. As he explained, dealing with such an incident requires specific and careful steps to ensure the vessel remains stable.

Regarding the next stages, he said that technical inspections, towing the vessel to a safe location and completion of the necessary procedures are planned, while the removal of water, fuel and lubricants may take place at the shipyard. This will be followed by an on-site inspection and a full investigation into the causes of the fire. At the same time, the preliminary investigation by the Tinos Port Authority is continuing, and all crew members have already given statements.

Finally, referring to the supply and ferry connections to the islands served by the “BLUE CARRIER 2,” the Minister of Maritime Affairs stressed: “At the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, we immediately approve any request for additional sailings, should they be required.”

As he said, the company is expected to submit requests for additional emergency sailings on September 29, as well as October 2 and 3, while from October 6 the company will deploy a vessel on a permanent basis, so that the islands’ connections can be fully restored.

The company will issue relevant announcements to passengers and transport operators.