A tragic accident occurred at the port of Patras late Thursday night when a 47-year-old female seafarer working in the hotel department of the Greek-chartered ferry AF Claudia was fatally hit by a reversing truck on the vessel’s ramp.
Authorities reported that the woman, a Greek national described as an assistant- a role typically involving tasks like cleaning cabins or serving passengers- was on foot when she was caught under the wheels of a truck’s trailer during unloading operations.
The driver, a 44-year-old Greek man, was reversing the vehicle when he failed to see her. He was later hospitalised after feeling unwell.
The incident occurred as the AF Claudia, a 24,418 gross ton RoRo ferry registered in Italy and owned by Adria Ferries, was unloading vehicles.
The ferry, built in 2001, had completed a journey from Venice to Patras, with a stop at Igoumenitsa, arriving at around 22:50 on April 24.
It operates under charter to Greece’s Attica Group for the Superfast Ferries brand and can carry up to 950 passengers and around 100 vehicles.
After the fatal accident, four people were arrested: the terminal tractor driver, the ship’s captain, the chief officer, and the person responsible for the ship’s loading ramp.
Authorities said the driver faces manslaughter by negligence charges, while the others have been accused of exposing individuals to danger.
All four were scheduled to appear before a prosecutor on Friday.
The 47-year-old victim was rushed to Patra University Hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival. Per reports from local authorities, the woman may have been dragged by the truck as it backed up, causing her fatal injuries.
The ferry remained docked in Patras on Friday as investigations continued. The Hellenic Coast Guard and the Greek Maritime Accident Investigation Service (ELYDNA) have launched a formal probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In response to the tragedy, the Patras Labour Centre called for a 24-hour strike beginning at 19:00 on Friday, April 25, and a protest rally starting at 18:30.
The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) and other unions also demanded an immediate investigation into the accident, calling for a stricter enforcement of safety regulations in the ferry industry.
They alleged that authorities have ignored warnings about safety risks during loading and unloading operations at Greek ports.
Union officials pointed out that earlier this month, the Patras Labour Centre had issued warnings about “grave risks” threatening both crew members and passengers during port operations.
They highlighted a continued pattern of negligence and poor safety practices among ferries operating between Italy and Greece.
The unions had already been planning a strike on May 1 to protest working conditions, and a rally is now scheduled for the Thursday before May Day.
Attica Group, which operates the vessel under charter, issued a statement expressing deep condolences for the loss of their fellow seafarer.
Greece’s Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, also expressed condolences through social media, saying that seafarers face risks every day and that protecting their lives must always be a priority.
References: greekcitytimes, ekathimerini
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