Sentencing of Captain and First Officer of Blue Horizon Ferry in Passenger Drowning Case

In a significant legal development, the Piraeus Mixed Jury Court has sentenced the captain and first officer of the Blue Horizon ferry in connection with the drowning death of passenger Antonis Karyotis, which occurred in September 2023. The first officer received a 12.5-year sentence for manslaughter, while the captain was given a sentence of 7 years and 5 months for allowing the ferry to leave after the tragic incident. Both have been ordered to begin their sentences immediately, as their requests for suspension were denied.

The incident took place on September 5, 2023, at Port Piraeus-Athens, when Karyotis attempted to board the Blue Horizon ferry heading to Heraklion, Crete. As the ferry was departing with the stern ramp still down, Karyotis rushed to board. A crew member intervened, leading to a confrontation that resulted in Karyotis being pushed off the ramp and drowning in the harbor. Despite witnessing the incident, the ferry continued its journey and only returned to port approximately 40 minutes later, following instructions from authorities.

Prosecutors initially charged four crew members: the captain, first officer, second officer, and boatswain. Although the second officer and boatswain were acquitted due to limited involvement as evidenced by video footage, the first officer was convicted of manslaughter. The captain was found guilty of permitting the ferry’s departure post-incident and attempting to conceal the crime. Their sentences were somewhat mitigated due to their previously clean records.

This case has sparked considerable political fallout, leading to the resignation of Greece’s shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, amid public outrage regarding his remarks on the situation. Additionally, Spyridon Paschalis, the CEO of Attica Group, which operates the Blue Horizon, also resigned.

The incident has ignited discussions within the maritime industry concerning the adequacy of crew training, passenger safety measures, and ferry operators’ accountability. It underscores the critical necessity for strict compliance with safety protocols and the importance of prompt, appropriate responses to emergencies to avert future tragedies.

For more details about the incident, visit the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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