Passenger Ferry Smashes Into Greece’s Rafina Port Jetty, Splitting Structure In Two

A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of travelers struck a concrete jetty at Greece’s Port of Rafina late on Monday, severely damaging the structure and prompting an investigation by local authorities.

The ferry, Andros King, was arriving at Rafina after completing its route through the Cyclades islands when it collided with a jetty near the port entrance while maneuvering to berth. The impact split the structure into two parts, according to local reports.

No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, and authorities said no fuel leak or marine pollution was detected following the accident.

The vessel was sailing from Mykonos to Rafina carrying 283 passengers, 67 vehicles, 13 trucks, 10 motorcycles and 60 crew members. Other reports said the ferry was returning after completing a route that included Mykonos, Tinos and Andros.

At the time of the incident, northerly winds of 4 to 5 on the Beaufort scale were reported in the area.

Following the collision, officials from the Rafina Port Authority and the Hellenic Coast Guard inspected both the vessel and the damaged port infrastructure.

Initial reports indicated the ferry struck the jetty while turning inside the breakwater during berthing operations.

Inspections found no damage affecting the vessel’s seaworthiness. After additional technical assessments, the ferry was cleared by authorities and departed Rafina as scheduled at 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday.

Rafina is the second-busiest passenger port in the Athens area after Port of Piraeus, handling around two million passengers annually.

During the summer season, the port manages between 20 and 30 ferry departures each day, most of them serving the Cyclades islands.

The port is located on the eastern coast of Attica, about 32 km from central Athens and roughly 16 km from Athens International Airport.

The Rafina Port Authority has launched a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the incident, while assessments of the damaged jetty and port infrastructure continue.

Despite the damage to the pier, ferry operations resumed after the vessel was cleared to sail, and officials have reported no disruption to passenger services at this stage.

References: ekathimerini, tovima