SAMARIA I

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

43 migrants taken to Chora Sfakion

On the morning hof Jun 15, 2024, the Port Authorities of Chania, Paleochora and Chora Sfakion were notified of a vessel with a sufficient number of passengers three nautical miles southwest of Gavdos. Immediately, a boat with officers from the Gavdos Coast Guard went to the position, where they spotted a wooden boat with 43 migrants, en route to the Karave port of Gavdos, accompanied by the boat. Subsequently, they boarded the 'Samaria I' and were initially transported to the port of Chora Sfakion and then to a temporary storage area, in the port of Souda. The Central Port Authority of Chania, which conducted the preliminary investigation, confiscated the wooden boat.

Allision in Paleochora

On MAy 15, 2024, at noon , the Port Authority of Paleochora was informed that during the mooring manoever of the 'Samaria I', there was an impact on the pier of Skala Paleochora, Chania, due to a sudden gust of wind and high waves. The ferry suffered a breach approximately ten centimeters in diameter and approximately fifty centimeters long in the bow bulkhead approximately half a meterabove the waterline. The ship safely disembarked the passengers and vehicles, and no injuries were reported and no marine pollution was observed. The Paleochora Port Station, which conducted the preliminary investigation, banned the ship from sailing until a certificate of seaworthiness has been presented by themonitoring classification society.

483 migrants aboard drifting fishing vessel rescued in major SAR operation

Off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, a major rescue operation was launched for a drifting dilapidated fishing boat with 483 migrants on board on Nov 21, 2022, shortly after midnight. The Greek navy frigate 'Kanari', which arrived south of Paleochora from Souda, two Italian fishing vessels, a tanker and two cargo vessels were involved in the rescue operation amid stormy seas. . The boat arrived at the port of Paleochora under tow of the Italian flagged f/v 'Tista' at around 1:00 p.m., where the refugees were provided first aid. At least half of the migrants refused until late at night to disembark from the ship that brought them from Libya. Their request was for the Greek authorities to guarantee the supply of the spare part in order to repair the boat's rudder and to continue the journey to Italy, the original destination. Those who disembarked have been transferred to the accommodation, ship "Samaria 1". The operation is considered the largest that has been carried out in Crete and in the Mediterranean in the last few years, at least, which was confirmed by the Minister of Commercial Shipping and Island Policy, Yiannis Plakiotakis, who congratulated the officers of the Coast Guard who planned and carried out the rescue operation, even under adverse weather conditions. Reports with photos: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1198511/boat-with-hundreds-of-migrants-safely-towed-to-cretan-port/ https://www.daynight.gr/kriti/chania/kriti-i-megalyteri-epicheirisi-diasosis-metanaston-sti-mesogeio/ https://www.dw.com/el/%CE%B7-%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B7-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%86%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%8C%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%AD%CF%83%CF%89-%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%AE%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82/a-63853828