Islanders seeking ways to bypass ferry strike

The disruptions caused by the extended strike by Greek seamen was overcome on Friday by farmers on Naxos who used fishing boats to transport supplies including dairy products to neighboring Aegean islands, while two ferry companies (Ionian Group and Kefalonian Lines) operating the Zakynthos-Kyllini line broke the strike with two morning sailings on the pretext there was an emergency on the island.

Reports suggested the farmers would continue supplying other islands in the coming days while the Municipality of Ierapetra has called for a state of emergency to be declared on Crete due to major problems resulting from the ongoing industrial action.

Merchant Marine Minister Panayiotis Kouroublis met on Friday with representatives of the Greek seamen’s union, PNO, to push for a dialogue and reiterated the government’s intention not to introduce tax hikes in their sector.