V. Kikilias in Kyllini: “The Coast Guard on the Front Line to Ensure the Safety of Thousands of Passengers”

The operational readiness of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the safe operation of the Port of Kyllini—one of the country’s most important ferry ports and the third busiest in terms of passenger traffic—as well as issues concerning the need to upgrade the area’s port infrastructure, were at the centre of the visit by Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, to Kyllini.

During his visit to the Kyllini Port Authority, the Minister received a detailed briefing on the operational activities of the local port authority, which currently has 30 Hellenic Coast Guard personnel and operates the PLS 1092 Viking-class patrol vessel.

Particular emphasis was placed on the safe operation of the Kyllini–Zakynthos and Kyllini–Poros, Kefalonia ferry routes. Ten sailings operate daily on these routes: six to Zakynthos and four to Kefalonia. In 2025, more than 810,000 passengers travelled on the two routes, demonstrating the port’s pivotal role in connecting Western Greece with the Ionian Islands.

Mr Kikilias was also briefed on the daily security and public-order measures implemented to ensure the smooth movement of passengers and vehicles, as well as the particularly demanding workload of the Port Authority in matters relating to maritime labour and safety, owing to the area’s intensive ferry activity.

The Port Authority’s operational responsibilities also cover eight popular beaches within its jurisdiction, as well as daily inspections of lifeguards and the four businesses renting out recreational marine equipment, with the aim of ensuring strict compliance with safety regulations.

Port Safety and Infrastructure Upgrades

At a subsequent meeting attended by Ilia Member of Parliament Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, the Mayor of Andravida-Kyllini, Giannis Lentzas, and the President of the Kyllini Municipal Port Fund, Konstantinos Hantzis, the Minister reiterated that safety at the port and across maritime transport is his and the Ministry’s top priority.

“We are very pleased to see the road from Patras all the way here, a project that is the best thing to have been carried out in the area. This is a matter of protecting human lives and ensuring safety.

“Our top priority is safety at the port. As I have said before, we have carried out more than 1,800 inspections of passenger vessels, ferry boats, tourist vessels, coastal shipping vessels, yachts and other craft, focusing on safety issues.

“This is the job of the men and women of the Hellenic Coast Guard, and I thank them all for the work they do,” he said.

The meeting also addressed the necessary interventions to improve port infrastructure throughout the wider area, with particular emphasis on dredging and deepening works, as well as the possibility of developing a marina for recreational vessels in Kyllini.

“In any case, I do not consider Kyllini or the wider area to be second-tier regions. On the contrary, I believe this is precisely how we can provide our children with well-paid jobs and a better future than our own. This requires organisation and a great deal of hard work,” the Minister said.

He urged the relevant authorities to accelerate the preparation of a definitive master plan, stressing that the Ministry’s services would provide the fullest possible support to achieve the best results.

In closing, the Minister linked port infrastructure, maritime professions, investment and marine tourism to the creation of well-paid jobs and the prospect of young people remaining in the area and building their futures there.

Statements by Local Representatives

Ilia MP Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou thanked the Minister for his interest in the region, highlighting, among other things, the importance of strengthening the local Port Authorities with a new vessel and vehicles, as well as their contribution to safely managing the increased passenger traffic.

The Mayor of Andravida-Kyllini, Giannis Lentzas, noted that the studies required for the planned dredging works had been completed and would be presented to the Ministry. He also described the assessment of the feasibility of developing a marina as an important step towards the area’s further development, provided that it was based on realistic planning.