Power Outage in Argostoli Linked to Cruise Ship Maneuvering: What Happened in Kefalonia?

On May 4th, Kefalonia’s capital, Argostoli, experienced a significant power outage starting around 04:30 PM local time. The blackout impacted the central area for about an hour, with neighboring districts also reporting disturbances.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the outage might be related to damage to a submarine power cable, potentially caused by the anchoring of a cruise ship, specifically the Celestyal Journey. Local media reported this vessel was maneuvering in the port when the power disruption occurred, which was supported by images shared by Kefaloniapress.

The Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) deployed dive teams to evaluate the underwater cable and confirmed a serious fault. Although power was temporarily restored by 05:30 p.m. through rerouted supply, officials warned that comprehensive repairs, requiring specialized equipment, could take several days.

Submarine power cables are critical infrastructure in island regions, and damage from ship anchors is a well-known hazard. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) has highlighted similar incidents, such as a severe case in 2008 off the coast of Sicily where anchor drags caused extensive cable damage over a lengthy distance.

As of now, Greek maritime authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the incident, but HEDNO is actively monitoring the situation, and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause and explore preventive measures.

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