Greek ferry crews are warning of potential strike action over the transportation of urban waste by boat from the northwestern resort island of Corfu to the mainland, claiming the practice poses severe health risks to seamen.
The umbrella Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation union, known by its Greek PNO acronym, called Tuesday for an immediate halt to the use of what it called unsuitable vehicles to ferry Corfu’s rubbish to the port of Igoumenitsa for disposal on the mainland.
PNO said that the vehicles currently used allow a strong stink of rotting domestic waste – and in some cases foul-smelling liquid leaks – to escape into the ferries they board, posing potential risks to the health of crews and passengers.
While Greek law allows vehicles transporting waste to travel by ferry, it stipulates that these must be fully sealed to ensure that no smells or liquids can escape.
