The Council of Ministers is expected to issue a decision prohibiting vessels from setting sail, depending on weather conditions and the vessels’ displacement; this decision, according to statements by the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Kostas Fytiris, will remain in effect until the bill concerning the Coast Guard is passed.
The announcement was made following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday morning at the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (KSED), attended by Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hatzimanoli, and other officials, focusing on maritime safety and protective measures during hazardous weather conditions, in the wake of the recent incident at Cape Greco.
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The discussion focused on enhancing safety and more effectively preventing incidents that could endanger human lives, while, as was emphasized, the protection of human life remains the top priority.
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Minister of Justice and Public Order Kostas Fytiris, following the meeting at the National Security Council (K.S.E.D.), stated that, following the incident at Cape Greco, it was deemed appropriate for the relevant ministers to meet to review the incident and make decisions on what can be done during the transition period, as the creation of the Coast Guard has already been approved by the Council of Ministers. The goal, as the Minister said, is “to ensure unified coordination of all maritime activities.”
“Today there is a fragmentation of responsibilities that we identified 60 years ago,” and for that reason, he continued, “in March the government decided to establish the Coast Guard.”
Regarding the bill on the Coast Guard, Mr. Fytiris noted that it is currently undergoing legal review and will then be sent to Parliament for a vote, which the government considers a priority.
“This incident brought to light certain irregularities that we will resolve during this transitional phase through a series of decisions, which were made today,” he said.
“Specifically, a decision will be issued by the Council of Ministers—I hope tomorrow—concerning a ban on sailing based on weather conditions and the size and displacement of the vessels. This will help ensure that everyone understands there will be consequences for those who violate this decision. It will remain in effect until the Coast Guard bill is passed,” he noted.
Mr. Fytiris also said that “the bill provides for penalties for those who violate the decrees that will stem from the bill.”
Another issue that was raised, he continued, “is the monitoring of the decree’s implementation, which will be handled by the Port Authority, the Police, and the Police Helicopter Squadron, so that, promptly after the Meteorological Service issues a warning about adverse weather conditions, coastal areas can be inspected promptly so that all those outside ports and marinas can be instructed to enter them for their own protection.”
Regarding the operation launched in response to last Saturday’s incident, the Minister of Justice said it was coordinated by the National Crisis Management Center “at great risk to the helicopters, and we must acknowledge that. Perhaps the worst was averted. The situation was extremely difficult, with those three aircraft near the cliffs; two were lost.”
“We hope and believe that we will be able to ensure that such an incident never happens again. However, we also need the cooperation of the public and boat owners to heed the warnings issued by both the Meteorological Service and the Hellenic Coast Guard, because it sends out warnings to all mariners regarding adverse weather conditions,” he concluded.
For the transitional period, the following measures are being implemented immediately:
1. Issuance of a decision by the Council of Ministers regarding a ban on vessel departures, which will establish prohibitions and restrictions on vessels, depending on sea conditions and prevailing weather conditions.
2. Coordinated patrols along the coastline by the Port and Maritime Police and the MAEP, with specific instructions for monitoring the situation and enforcing the Decision.
3. Establishment of a Committee on Anchorages, which will comprehensively examine issues related to safety, the conditions for vessels’ stay, as well as the collection and proper management of waste.
The goal is the unified coordination of government agencies operating at sea, with clear responsibilities and accountability. Safety at sea and the protection of human life and the marine environment cannot wait for institutional procedures to be completed. The changes begin now and will be completed with the establishment of the Coast Guard of the Republic of Cyprus, concludes a related announcement from the Ministry of Justice.
