Passenger ferry service in Greece resumes throughout the country on Monday, May 18. New passenger shipping guidelines require travellers to wear face masks and follow social distancing. The guidelines remain in place through June 15.
The measures were agreed upon during the meetings chaired by Shipping Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis, along with Panagiotis Prezerakos, Secretary-General for Public Health, Ministry officials, and the expert scientific committee on infectious diseases.
The new regulations call for ferry passengers to maintain a distance of 5 ft (1.5 m) between each other during embarkation and disembarkation; allowing just one person per stateroom; the mandatory use of face masks for both crew and passengers; and dispersing passengers so they don't occupy adjacent seats.
For passengers on international routes, Greece-Italy, they also include the submission of statements of health before departure and the taking of temperatures when boarding.
Other rules stipulate that commercial and private ships coming from foreign countries, except cruise liners, will be allowed to dock at Greek marinas, ports, or shipyards in case they do not carry travelers, and comply with specific health measures as well as obtaining the permission of local port authorities.
Ships hailing from countries where COVID lockdown measures still apply will not be permitted to approach Greek ports.