Another stark reminder that, in Greece in 2025, people with disabilities are still treated as second-class citizens has emerged from a recent incident involving a disabled child. The child, accompanied by their caregiver, was forced to travel in the ferry’s garage under scorching heat, due to the absence of a ramp, on a route from Thasos to Keramoti.
The incident sparked widespread outrage after it was made public. In response, Greece’s Minister for Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, ordered an investigation. The Kavala Port Authority has since launched proceedings to impose sanctions for what has been widely condemned as a shameful episode.
The penalties relate to violations of the General Port Regulations and are directed at both the ferry’s captain and those responsible for loading operations. According to an official ministry statement, the captain received a stern reprimand, particularly for failing to ensure that the child and their caregiver were accommodated in a suitable and safe area during the journey.
Public Outcry
The incident first came to light through a social media post by a passenger who traveled on the same ferry. As reported by a local news outlet kavalapost.gr, the witness described her deep distress:
“Once again, I felt ashamed to be human. A person in a wheelchair, accompanied by their caregiver, had to travel alongside the vehicles because clearly, there was no way to access the passenger deck. This has been going on for years—elderly passengers and people with mobility issues are forced to travel under inhumane conditions because there are simply no provisions for them. Why? Who is responsible and can actually answer this?”
A Second Complaint
Adding to the public anger, another passenger came forward, just a day before the incident, with a separate but similar complaint. According to media, a woman reported that her mother— a kidney patient returning exhausted from days of hospitalization in Thessaloniki and preparing for open-heart surgery—was made to travel in the ferry’s garage as well. She was seated on a plastic chair in oppressive heat, after her request to use a disability lift or even a proper chair was denied.
