Location: Piraeus/Athens, Greece
Greek seafarers conducted a nationwide 24-hour strike on Thursday, March 5, 2026, effectively halting all local ferry services and maritime traffic. The labour action, called by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), follows the escalation of the Iran–Middle East conflict, which has left hundreds of seafarers—including dozens of Greek nationals—stranded on merchant vessels in high-risk zones like the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Union members are demanding the immediate evacuation of these crews and the formal designation of the region as a “war risk zone” to facilitate safe repatriation.
Strike Duration: The mobilisation began at 00:01 on Thursday, March 5, and concluded at 24:00 the same day.
Impact on Transport: All ship categories remained docked in ports across Greece, causing widespread disruption to island ferry services.
Scope of Risk: According to maritime reports, more than 325 Greek-owned ships are currently located in the Gulf region.
Regional Instability: The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has expressed concern for approximately 20,000 seafarers in the area, noting that at least nine ships have been damaged by strikes since the conflict intensified on Saturday.
Protest Activity: In Piraeus, dozens of protesters gathered outside the shipowners’ union, spray-painting slogans such as “No sacrifice for profit and wars”. A motorcycle convoy also travelled to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy to deliver demands.
The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) Demands
Immediate Evacuation: The union demands the urgent extraction and safe repatriation of all seafarers currently in the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
War Risk Designation: They seek a formal “war risk” status for the region, which would grant seafarers the contractual right to refuse to sail into the area and guarantee shipowner-funded repatriation.
Transit Ban: The PNO has declared that “no ship will depart from Greece to the Middle East” under current conditions and opposes any government plans to send vessels to the conflict zone.
Support for Cadets: The federation called for specific measures to assist maritime academy students (cadets) serving on these vessels who are unable to return to Greece to complete their studies.
Official Statements
Angelos Galanopoulos, head of the lower engine crews’ union (Stephenson):
“We demand that all of our colleagues, currently in the dangerous Gulf area, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, are evacuated and safely repatriated.”
Apostolis Kypraios, head of the marine engineers’ union (PEMEN):
“The government and shipowners are responsible for the people trapped in war areas. We demand that they find a solution for our colleagues to return home. Their families are worried and seafarers don’t know if they will return alive.”
Vasilis Kikilias, Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy:
“10 Greek-flagged ships are in the Gulf. We are in contact with our seafarers 24/7… I am still worried. We cannot rule out the possibility of bigger problems.”
Sources
Shipping Telegraph: Strike over ‘stuck’ Greek seamen in war-torn Middle East
To Vima: Nationwide Ferry Strike to Halt Greek Ships on March 5
The Straits Times: Greek seafarers strike over crews stranded in the Gulf
