Ntia: Shell neutralization, sailing ban

A shell neutralization operation is taking place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in the sea area of the island of Ntia, opposite Karperi cove, north of Heraklion. The ordnance was found by a tourist in the sea area of the cove, who immediately notified the authorities. The operation had initially been scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, but was postponed to the following day. The Heraklion Port Authority issued a ban on all sea activity within a radius of 1.5 nautical miles around the site where it was found, which includes swimming, fishing, and the movement of professional and recreational boats, dinghies and water sports. The ban is in effect from 07:00 on Thursday, September 3, until further notice from the port authority. The Crete Naval Base in Souda was also informed for the coordination of the operation, as the neutralization of ordnance in a marine environment requires cooperation between port and naval authorities.

The island of Ntia is an uninhabited islet located about seven nautical miles north of the port of Heraklion, opposite the city’s coast. It is a protected area within the Natura 2000 network and a wildlife refuge, with significant seabird populations and rare flora, which gives it particular ecological value for the wider Heraklion area. At the same time, Ntia is a popular destination for day cruises and boat trips from Heraklion, especially during the summer months, with visitors swimming in its coves and exploring its coastline. The presence of ordnance from earlier periods is not unprecedented in areas around Crete, where shells, ordnance and other objects are occasionally found, often remnants of military exercises or of World War II.

The procedure for neutralizing ordnance at sea follows a specific safety protocol. When a suspicious object is found, the locally responsible Port Authority is notified, which in turn alerts the competent military authorities, as the final assessment and neutralization is usually carried out by a Hellenic Navy underwater demolition unit. Before the operation, a safety zone is established around the site, within which all shipping and fishing activity is banned, in order to avoid any risk to boats and swimmers. Anyone who finds a suspicious object at sea or on the shore must not touch it or attempt to move it, but should immediately notify the nearest Port Authority, giving as precise a location as possible. The immediate notification of the authorities by the tourist who found the shell in Karperi cove is considered decisive for the safe handling of the case.

As of the morning of Thursday, September 3, 2026, the exact duration of the operation had not been officially announced, nor whether the sailing ban would be extended beyond the area around Karperi cove. The Heraklion Port Authority is expected to issue a further announcement once the neutralization is completed and the shipping restriction is lifted. Residents and visitors of Heraklion planning a trip or cruise to Ntia in the coming days are advised to check for updates before departure, while boat owners and professional fishermen in the area must strictly observe the exclusion zone. The case is part of a series of incidents involving the discovery of old ordnance in the territorial waters around Crete, where the authorities periodically repeat their advice of caution to swimmers and boats.