Left: Greek minister Vasilis Kikilias. Right: Chief of Hellenic Coast Guard, vice admiral HCG Christos Kontorouchas.
Emergency inspections of ships have increased by 51% this year, following an order from the Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias, to further intensify inspections ahead of the summer season.
More specifically, by May 21, 2026, 515 emergency inspections had been carried out, compared to 341 during the same period in 2025.
A significant increase is also noted in the number of sailing bans, which rose to 50 this year from just 4 last year, with the percentage standing at 9.7% compared to 1.2%.
There has also been an increase in regular inspections, which reached 414 from 397 during the corresponding period last year, marking a
