The ships are ok but the trolley buses are… anchored

After political mobilization, the seamen’s' unions suspended their strike action on Tuesday morning and maritime transport was restored after eight days.

The noose on the island economy, businessmen, agricultural unions and households is off and everybody is relaxed after eight agonizing days. According to circles in coastal shipping, it will take at least a week to restore normalcy in the markets of the islands.

The routes began to run normally from 11 yesterday morning.

A few hours earlier the Government had moved to the seamen’s political mobilization. All night intense meetings followed in the port of Piraeus, so that the Monday evening services for Crete could not be run.

The only ship that left on Monday midnight was “Phaistos Palace”, empty of both passengers and vehicles.

Also, Blue Star Naxos made the route back from Astypalea, Amorgos, Donousa, Naxos and Paros, and arrived in Piraeus early this morning.

Finally Blue Star 1 made the return route from Rhodes-Kos-Leros-Patmos-Thira-and Syros to Piraeus.

Shortly after, the PSF (Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation) decided to call off its strike.

«Our eight-day strike, now suspended, was tough and came to be under adverse conditions, both on the part of the shipping capital of maritime services, and the Government that opposed by any means the fundamental rights of Greek seamen» PSF stresses in yesterday's announcement.

In contrast to the suspended maritime strike, Athens will have no trolley-bus service for today, from 11:00 to 15:00, due to the participation of the drivers in the workers’ general meeting.