Thousands of travelers are departing for the Greek islands as the country’s summer holiday season gathers pace, with major ports around Athens experiencing a sharp increase in passenger traffic.
For July 13 alone, ferry operators scheduled 21 departures from the Port of Piraeus, 15 from Rafina and eight from Lavrio to accommodate the growing number of holidaymakers heading to island destinations.
Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, visited the Port of Piraeus early in the morning to oversee operations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. During his visit, he met passengers, professional drivers, coast guard personnel and ferry crews, wishing them a safe journey and a pleasant summer.
Speaking from the port, Kikilias stressed that passenger safety remains the government’s top priority and urged travelers to cooperate with port authorities as ferry occupancy continues to rise.
“For us, safety comes first,” the minister said, calling on passengers to follow the instructions of coast guard officers at ports across the country.
He also thanked ferry crews for their work during the peak holiday season and noted that ferry occupancy is expected to continue increasing until mid-August, when demand traditionally reaches its highest levels, with many services operating at full capacity.
Kikilias encouraged passengers to remain patient and cooperate with transport officials to ensure smooth departures throughout the busy summer travel period.
