A wave of significantly cold weather with high winds and rain in Greece has disrupted shipping and left the islands of the Aegean cut off for several days as ferry boats stayed moored. With temperatures ranging close to zero, most ships remained docked at ports across the country.
On Sunday night and Monday morning, Force 10-11 winds were reported in several parts of the Aegean, while, since last week, strong winds prevented ferries from sailing from Athenian ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio, affecting operations in the Saronic Gulf.
The disrupting services in the area are expected to abate by Tuesday afternoon.
Dubbed Hephaestion, the cold snap has brought snow, sleet and heavy showers to the Greek capital and the nearby island of Evia, as well as powerful storms in the Aegean and Crete.
Meanwhile, temperatures remain extremely low in the northern regions.
As a result of the inclement weather, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier ‘Aeolos’ carrying metal from Turkey to Argentina with 22 crew members onboard, went adrift Monday off Peloponnese peninsula.
Heavy weather at sea combined with inappropriate manipulations may lead to damage of a vessel, threatening the cargo, the environment or, even worst, human life.
This situations demand of crew’s preparation and immediate response, in order to ensure vessel’s safe passage with no or less harms on vessel’s cargo or even vessel’s personnel.
