Ferry Captain and Officer Convicted in Passenger Death Case After Tragic Incident

A jury in Piraeus, Greece found the captain and first officer of the interisland ferry, Blue Horizon, guilty in a tragic 2023 case where a passenger was pushed to his death as the ferry departed port. The incident, which caused national outrage in Greece, occurred when a 36-year-old male passenger was pushed from the car ramp on the departing ferry. The court rejected claims of a spontaneous action and prosecutors argued that nothing was done to save the victim as the ferry continued sailing. The crewmembers involved faced charges for their roles in the incident.

Family members of the victim argued that the crew could have taken alternative actions, such as allowing the late arriving passenger to purchase a ticket onboard or turning him over to the Coast Guard or police. Prosecutors highlighted that not only did the crew deliberately push the passenger, but they also failed to aid him once he was in the water. The incident took place on September 5, 2023, as the ferry departed from Piraeus for Heraklion, Crete, and the vessel continued to sail despite the tragedy.

The jury convicted the first officer of manslaughter and sentenced him to 12.5 years in prison, while the captain was convicted for allowing the ferry to depart after the incident and covering up the crime, receiving a sentence of 7 years and 5 months. The court noted that the sentences were reduced due to the individuals’ previous lawful conduct. The second officer and boatswain were acquitted of charges of complicity in the murder, despite their presence at the scene of the incident. The captain and first officer were ordered to prison pending their appeals.

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