The safe return of the ship-museum “Velos” to its intended location, in the “Nautical Tradition Park” in P.Faliro, is requested by Association of Imprisoned and Exiled Resistance Fighters (S.F.E.A.) 1967-1974 after the rupture suffered by the ship, due to the very strong winds and rough seas that have been prevailing in the thermal since yesterday morning.

As stated in a related announcement by the Association, the historic ship, which has been anchored in Nea Paralia since September 2019, was kept upright thanks to the assistance of a tug that rushed to its aid from the port of Thessaloniki.

“We express our strong protest to the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense, because it continues to turn a deaf ear to our messages – and the relevant questions of parliamentarians – which warned that “the condition of the ship is EXTREMELY alarming and unsafe”, as the area of ​​Nea Paralia in Thessaloniki, to which the ship was transferred, is completely unsuitable and does not meet the international security provisions according to the ISPS Code, and moreover because as a warship it does not have the appropriate protection, given that this area is unsafe because it does not constitute a safe port. Instead, it is open to the winds [κυρίως βαρδάρης] and the sea, with the result that the monument is completely unprotected from the weather. For an 80-year-old ship that needs systematic and special maintenance, these conditions are disastrous.”