Syros: water ingress in catamaran, all safe

An alert was raised on Thursday afternoon, 17 September 2026 in the sea area southeast of Syros, where, according to cyclades24.gr, water ingress was detected in a catamaran flying a Greek flag, approximately nine nautical miles southeast of the island. Ten foreign nationals were on the vessel, who, as reported by the same source, were all rescued safely, with no injuries reported during the operation. The news, as presented by cyclades24.gr, describes a rescue operation that was mobilised immediately that same afternoon, with the involvement of Hellenic Coast Guard forces and a fishing vessel from the area.

According to the same report, the rescue operation unfolded with the assistance of two different vessels that arrived at the scene almost simultaneously. A Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel rescued two of the people on board and transferred them to Syros harbour, while, as reported by cyclades24.gr, a fishing vessel in the area undertook the collection of the remaining eight people, ultimately bringing them to Naxos harbour. The simultaneous involvement of a fishing vessel alongside the Coast Guard patrol vessels, according to the report, appears to have contributed decisively to the speed with which the rescue of all ten people was completed, with no injuries recorded.

This incident southeast of Syros takes place during a period when the sea lane through the Cyclades remains, even in September, busy with recreational vessels such as catamarans and sailing yachts, crossing the open passages between the islands. A similar incident had been recorded recently on Ios, where an unmanned sailing yacht needed assistance, with the two people on board ultimately being rescued safely. In the Cyclades, fishing vessels often function as additional ‘eyes and hands’ alongside the Coast Guard in such operations, particularly at locations remote from harbours, where every minute counts. Weather conditions remain a factor of ongoing concern for sea users in the region, as documented in a recent report on rain, northerly winds and fire risk in the Cyclades.

The cause of the water ingress in the catamaran has not been clarified, and there is no official information about the final fate of the vessel, nor whether it remained at sea or was towed. As of the time of publication of this article, no statement has been issued by the Syros Port Authority regarding the incident. In similar cases of water ingress, the usual procedure includes investigation by the relevant Port Authority and possible prohibition of departure until necessary repairs are carried out; however, no such announcement has been made officially for this particular vessel. Cyclades24.gr remains, so far, the sole source of information about the incident.