[Julien Warnand/AP]
Greece’s ombudsman said disciplinary proceedings have still not been initiated in connection with the 2023 shipwreck off Pylos, 15 months after completing its preliminary investigation into possible actions and omissions by senior Coast Guard officials.
The disaster occurred on June 14, 2023, when a fishing trawler carrying an estimated 750 migrants sank off southern Greece, leaving more than 500 people dead or missing.
In a statement, the independent authority said that despite criminal prosecutions already filed on felony charges, no administrative disciplinary process has been launched.
The ombudsman said it has repeatedly urged the Shipping Ministry to proceed, but has received no response regarding the initiation of disciplinary action.
The authority, which also serves as Greece’s National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents involving security forces, noted that the ministry had sought guidance from the State Legal Council on procedural issues.
A legal opinion issued in November confirmed that the ministry retains disciplinary jurisdiction over the case.
The ombudsman said the opinion became binding once accepted by the ministry, but added that no further action has followed, despite additional written requests for updates.
Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis has warned that continued delays risk undermining institutional credibility, weakening morale within the Coast Guard and affecting Greece’s international standing on accountability and the rule of law in maritime operations.