Timetable Proteus ferryboat from Mantoudi to Skopelos

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Boat strike

Ferries will stay in the ports across Greece during February 8-9 after the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) announced a 48-hour strike in all ship categories. According to an announcement, the umbrella union of Greek seamen are demanding a revised collective labor agreement for 2023 with pay raises. The PNO is also protesting against uninsured labor and is calling for the establishment of a permanent system for the financial support of unemployed seafarers. The union is requesting for an increase in the monthly unemployment benefit to 650 euros for the unmarried and to 850 euros for married seamen, with an additional 150 euros for each dependent person, and free medical care for seafarers and their families. The strike will start from 06.01 in the morning of Wednesday, February 8 and will last until 06.00 in the morning of Friday, February 10. Travelers who have booked ferry tickets  February 8-9 are advised to check with their travel agents or contact local port authorities for further information. Source: https://news.gtp.gr/2023/01/24/ferry-travel-greek-seamen-announce-48-hour-strike-for-february-8-9/

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Ferryboat Thessaloniki-Skopelos starts June the 10th.

The ferryboat is called Superrunner

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Greece Drops Covid-19 Requirements for Country Entry

As of May 1, travelers coming to Greece will no longer be required to display an EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC), recovery certificate, or test to enter the country, the Greek Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

More specifically, the government’s Covid committee decided unanimously starting May 1:

– travelers to Greece will be able to enter the country without presenting a digital covid certificate which indicates whether someone has been vaccinated against Covid-19, a recovery certificate or a negative test

– admission to restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and entertainment venues will be allowed to all. The vaccination certificate, test or proof of recovery requirement has been dropped

– restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and entertainment venues will be able to operate at full (100 percent) capacity

– mask wearing outdoors is no longer necessary but the Covid committee strongly advises the use of face masks indoors

– school children will no longer be required to self-test and college students will not be required to take rapid tests

– unvaccinated employees and teachers will be required to present one rapid test per week (from the current two). This does not apply to medical staff.

Additional details will be outlined in the relevant ministerial decision.

It should be noted that during a press conference earlier this month, Health Minister Thanos Plevris reiterated that Covid measures are being lifted temporarily until September, when the situation will be reassessed. The same, he said, will apply to the face mask rule.

Source: https://news.gtp.gr/2022/04/29/greece-drops-covid-19-requirements-for-country-entry/

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Boats

At the moment there are already four boats ( ferryboats and flying dolphin) that come and go to Skopelos. This is an example from Easter week (openseas.gr) The boat from Thsessaloniki will probably start in June.

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Smaller

The fenced parking lot next to the harbor will become a little smaller to facilitate the traffic in the harbor. The iron fence on one side has been removed and a new stone wall is built. The bigger harbor can be used, under special circumstances, also for parking.

This is the beginning of the new stone wall

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Always something to see

The winter months may be quiet on the island but there is always something moving. You just have to look for it. This is the Proteus ferryboat travelling to Mantoudi. I saw it from Stafylos beach this afternoon. An easier route getting to the island from Athens. Glad we have it back.

These two fishing boats got into each others way whilst throwing out their nets. After a discussion one boat found other fishing grounds. The boats were fishing of Milia beach yesterday.

The weather will change towards the weekend. Colder temperatures (below zero) and a possibility of snow on Saturday. We will see. This image below is from https://www.meteo.gr/cf-en.cfm?city_id=230

I am getting some extra supplies.

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Proteus back and Easyjet from London to Volos

Updated timetable 16/01/2022 (source https://www.anes.gr/el/dromologia/sporades)

The Proteus ferryboat starts with sailing on Monday the 17th of January to and from Volos and from Wednesday (and every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) to and from Mantoudi.

Source: https://www.anes.gr/index.php/en/itinerary/sporades

Easyjet will fly to Volos airport starting on the 2nd of April 2021 from London Gatwick.

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Greece to require negative Covid-19 tests from all travelers as of December 19

Fears over the fast-spreading Omicron variant of Covid-19 have prompted Greek authorities to require as of 6am on Sunday, December 19, of all inbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result taken before entering the country.

PCR tests should be performed within 72 hours before travel and rapid antigen tests should be performed within 24 hours before travel.

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga said that the measure was being taken as a precaution due to the holiday season and that exempt from presenting a negative test are (vaccinated) people who stayed abroad for less than 48 hours.

Further details and updates on travel restrictions are expected to be announced soon by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

Highly concerned, earlier today, European Union leaders agreed that vaccine booster shots were necessary, particularly in view of the holiday season as epidemiologists warn of a surge in cases.

The heads of EU nations said that repeat doses of vaccines against the deadly virus were “urgent” and “crucial”, stressing at the same time that a coordinated response to travel was critical in order to avoid creating confusion and trust among travelers.

Source: https://news.gtp.gr/2021/12/16/greece-require-negative-covid-19-tests-all-travelers-december-19/

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Ferries, ships docked as Greece’s seamen go on 48h strike, Dec 10-11

Ferries and ships will remain docked as Greece’s seamen federation PNO has announced it will launch a 48-hour strike on December 10-11, 2021. The strike will affect all categories of ships.

It will start at 00:01 on Friday, December 10 and end at midnight Saturday, December 11, 2021.

According to a statement issued by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), seamen demand wage increases in the collective bargaining agreements for 2020-2021 and solutions to problems relating to social insurance, pensions, education, unemployment, undeclared work and many others.

Source: https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2021/11/30/ferries-greece-strike-dec-10-11-2021/

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