Piraeus, Greece— Two crew members were injured after two ferries collided off the coast of Piraeus on November 1, 2026, forcing both vessels to limp back to port under escort.
The collision happened around 8:30 a.m. near the entrance to Piraeus harbor, one of Europe's busiest passenger ports. One ferry was departing for the Saronic islands. The other was arriving from Crete. Visibility was reported as good, but harbor traffic was heavy.
Coast guard officials said the bow of one ferry struck the side of the other at low speed. The impact dented hull plating and shattered windows on a crew deck. Two crew members, both on the departing vessel, suffered cuts and bruises. No passengers were injured, according to initial reports.
"We felt a jolt and then an alarm. Crew told us to stay seated. It was not severe but very loud," a passenger said after disembarking. He said crew members quickly checked for damage and distributed life jackets as a precaution.
Piraeus handles more than 15 million passengers a year. Ferries operate on tight schedules, often with minutes between departures. Pilots rely on radar, VHF radio and harbor control. Collisions are rare but have occurred in congested lanes.
The Hellenic Coast Guard boarded both vessels and ordered them to anchor for inspection. Port authorities delayed six other departures for about an hour. Divers checked for underwater damage. Both ferries showed dents but no breach below the waterline.
The injured crew members were taken to a hospital in Piraeus. Their conditions were described as minor. One had a hand injury from broken glass. The other had a shoulder strain from the impact.
Ship owners said captains have more than 20 years of experience each. Alcohol testing was conducted as standard procedure. Both tested negative. Voyage data recorders were secured for analysis.
The Ministry of Shipping said an investigation will examine communications between the vessels and port control, as well as speed at the time of contact.
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