Greece lifts sailing bans for Rafina and Lavrio as gale-force winds ease; Piraeus departures resume after day of cancellations

Gale-force winds sweep the Aegean

Northerly and north-easterly winds reached 8 Beaufort across the Aegean, with local gusts touching 9 Beaufort, according to Greece’s National Meteorological Service (EMY). Those conditions made navigation dangerous and forced the Hellenic Coast Guard to impose a sailing ban from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio early on 31 July 2026. All scheduled departures from those two ports were suspended, leaving ferries tied up for much of the day. Winds of that strength are not unusual for the summer meltemi season, but the intensity was enough to halt key passenger sailings linking the mainland to the Cyclades and other islands.

Impact on Attica’s three main ports

The ban hit the smaller east-Attica ports hardest. At Rafina and Lavrio no ferry was allowed to leave before 19:00. Piraeus, by contrast, did not face a blanket prohibition; sailings there continued at the discretion of each vessel’s captain after coordination with local port authorities. The exception was the "Blue Star Paros," which was due to sail for Syros, Tinos and Mykonos but remained docked. Ferry services to the Argosaronic islands, in the sheltered Saronic Gulf, operated normally throughout the day. The different treatment of the three ports reflected the varying exposure to the open Aegean: Rafina and Lavrio face the full force of the northerlies, while Piraeus and the Argosaronic terminals are more protected.

Bans lifted and services resume

Shortly before 16:00 the Coast Guard announced that the departure ban would be lifted at 19:00 for Rafina and Lavrio, citing gradually improving weather. At the same time, authorities confirmed that Piraeus departures were already running normally. Soon after the ban was raised, ferry operators at all three ports began executing their published evening schedules. Specifically, the Hellenic Coast Guard told media that planned overnight sailings from Piraeus to Crete, Chios and Mytilene would go ahead as scheduled. No further cancellations were reported after the lifting.

Travel advice and weekend outlook

Mr. Balatsoukas, a Coast Guard spokesperson, told ERTnews Radio early on Friday that Saturday would likely see a lull in the phenomena, but he cautioned that definitive decisions on weekend sailings would only be made after evaluating the latest weather models Friday evening. He urged passengers to be patient, to follow official instructions, and to arrive at the ports at least one hour before departure, especially those travelling with vehicles. Travellers were also reminded to contact their ferry operator or the local port authority before setting out, a routine advisory that carried extra weight with the forecast still uncertain.