August 15th Holiday Travel Disrupted by Strong Winds

Ferry services for Greece's August 15th holiday weekend are facing disruptions due to strong winds. Ports in Rafina and Lavrio are experiencing significant issues, leading to cancellations and delays in ferry schedules. Authorities are reassessing the situation and expect an update by 11 a.m. on Friday.

In contrast, ferry operations from the port of Piraeus are proceeding as normal. Passenger traffic remains high as the holiday exodus peaks. According to advance bookings, 21 ferries were scheduled to depart from Piraeus on Friday, carrying an estimated 22,894 passengers to the Aegean islands.

Ferry traffic to the Saronic Gulf islands is also exceptionally busy. A total of 35 hydrofoil and 25 passenger-and-car ferry routes were planned, with 7,632 passengers pre-booked. Of these, 3,208 are expected to travel by high-speed craft and 4,424 by conventional ferries.

The mass departure had already begun on Thursday, August 13th, with increased activity at all three major ports in Attica. Piraeus saw 24 departures carrying 23,665 passengers to the Aegean islands, while 55 routes to the Saronic Gulf transported 8,589 passengers. Rafina reported 15 departures with 7,267 passengers, and Lavrio saw 8 ships depart with 2,754 passengers. The continuation of today's departures hinges on the wind conditions, as persistent adverse weather could lead to further schedule modifications or delays.