Strong southwesterly winds in the central Aegean Sea led Greek maritime authorities to impose a sailing ban from the main passenger ferry ports near Athens (Piraeus) on Saturday, January 3rd, resulting in widespread suspension of ferry services to key island destinations.
The restriction, applied at Piraeus and Rafina, was announced by port officials ahead of the period of adverse weather and was expected to span both morning and afternoon departures before conditions eased on Sunday.
The national meteorological service forecast winds of Beaufort scale 6 to 7, locally reaching force 8 across the Cyclades island group, prompting precautionary measures to safeguard ferry operations and passenger movements. In response, several scheduled sailings by operators including Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, and Golden Star Ferries were cancelled. Among the affected services were departures by Blue Star Paros from Piraeus to Syros, Tinos, and Mykonos, as well as the Blue Star Delos route to Paros, Naxos, and Santorini. Rafina-based services to Andros, Tinos, and Mykonos operated by vessels such as Andros Queen and Theologos P were also suspended for the day.
The ban was implemented as a safety measure in response to the forecast conditions, with authorities indicating that services could return to normal as the weather system moved out of the region. Passengers were advised to contact port authorities or their ferry operators directly for the latest information before planning travel to or from the ports.
This action reflects routine maritime precautions in the Aegean, where elevated wind strengths often lead to ferry cancellations or delays when Beaufort force reaches levels that compromise vessel handling and passenger safety.