Prohibition of access to Shipwreckits famous beach Zakynthos announced today, with a joint decision, the Ministers of Citizen Protection, Maritime and Island Policy, Tourism and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

Access to the beach is prohibited for visitors from both sea and land, from the so-called plateau.

Despite the efforts of the local authorities and the assurances of the “opening” of the Shipwreck this year, according to the ministerial decision, the prohibitions that were in force last year remain intact.

That is, the traffic and approach – anchoring of boats is not allowed, nor the swimming by boaters anywhere in the bay and specifically in the marine area inside the imaginary line, which joins the two ends (north and south) of the bay.

As far as the plateau is concerned, visitor access is prohibited, with a prohibition limit of 10 meters from the edge of the slope.

This is followed by the Public Order No. 8439/2024 Official Gazette 2653/B/2-5-2024 Taking measures to prohibit visitors from accessing the area of ​​the Shipwreck of Zakynthos.

THE MINISTERS OF CIVIL PROTECTION – SHIPPING AND ISLAND POLICY – TOURISM – CLIMATE CRISIS AND CIVIL PROTECTION

Bearing in mind: A. The provisions: 1. Paragraph 8 of article 68 regarding protection measures for the Zakynthos Shipwreck of Law 4875/2021 “Standard Tourist Destinations of Integrated Management, Destination Management and Promotion Organizations, Thermal Springs of Greece and other regulations for the strengthening of tourist development” (A’ 250), as added by article 268 of Law 5037/2023 (A’ 78), 2. of articles 9, 14, 188, 295 and 296 of the General Regulation of the Port of Zakynthos (B’ 330), 3. of p.d. 127/2017 “Organization of the Ministry of Tourism” (A’ 257), 4. of the p.d. 13/2018 “Organization of the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy” (A’ 26), 5. of the p.d. 70/2021 “Establishment of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, transfer of services and responsibilities between Ministries” (A’ 161), 6. of p.d. 86/2018 “Reconstitution of the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection and renaming it to the Ministry of Citizen Protection” (A’ 159), 7. of p.d. 81/2019 “Establishment, merger, renaming and abolition of Ministries and determination of their responsibilities. Transfer of services and responsibilities between Ministries” (A’ 19), 8. of the p.d. 77/2023 “Establishment of a Ministry and renaming of Ministries – Establishment, abolition and renaming of General and Special Secretariats – Transfer of responsibilities, service units, staff positions and supervised entities” (A’ 130), 9. of p.d. 79/2023 “Appointment of Vice-President of the Government, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Deputy Ministers” (A’ 131), 10. of p.d. 87/2023 “Appointment of the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy” (A’ 151), 11. of p.d. 2/2024 “Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers” (A’ 2), 12. of Article 90 of the Code of Legislation for the Government and Governmental Bodies (p.d. 63/2005, A’ 98), as maintained in force with c. 22 of article 119 of Law 4622/2019 (A’ 133), 13. of the joint decision of the Ministers of Citizen Protection – Maritime and Island Policy – Tourism – Climate Crisis and Civil Protection under data 7190/6.4.2023 “Receipt of measures prohibiting visitors’ access to the area of ​​the Shipwreck of Zakynthos” (B’ 2290) and of its amendment with the joint ministerial decision under data 7851/13.4.2023 (B’ 2477). B. 1. The recommendation under data 189/15.4.2024 of the General Secretary of Civil Protection to the Minister of Tourism on the necessity of taking measures to prohibit access of visitors to the area of ​​the Shipwreck of Zakynthos. 2. The under data 1032/15.4.2024 opinion of the President of the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization to the General Secretary of Civil Protection, regarding risk assessment in the Area of ​​the Shipwreck of Zakynthos. 3. The continuing need to take extraordinary measures with a view to the protection of human life and the preservation of order-security and by extension the general public interest during the tourist season in Navagio Zakynthos Bay 4. The under no. 8028/25.4.2024 recommendation of the General Directorate of Economic and Administrative Services of the Ministry of Tourism, according to which the provisions herein do not impose a burden on the Budget of the Ministry of Tourism, we decide:

The prohibition of access for visitors to the cove “Wreck of Zakynthos” as follows:

1. a) The prohibition of access and approach to the “Prohibited Zone” and the “Controlled Access Zone”, as they appear in the Appendix accompanying this and mentioned in the dated 15.4.2024 with a.p. 1032 Risk Assessment in the Zakynthos Shipwreck Area of ​​the OASP. b) Prohibition of access to the top part of the slope and to the plateau that exists in front of the slope and is bordered by a visitor access road, with a prohibition limit of 10 meters from the edge of the slope and the placement of appropriate signage. c) The exceptional approach to the free access zone as shown in the attached Appendix and mentioned in the decree dated 15.4.2024 with a.p. 1032 Risk Assessment in the Zakynthos Wreck Area of ​​the OASP, which includes the area defined by the DG points and has as a limit the wreck of the “Panagiotis” ship, exclusively and only in cases of emergency and assistance.

2. a) The prohibition of traffic and the approach-anchoring of any floating motorized or non-motorized means, as well as the prohibition of taking a sea bath by bathers in the marine area inside the imaginary line which joins the two (02) ends (boring and southern ) of Ormos “Navagio” Zakynthos. The approach to the said sea area is allowed only in cases of emergency and assistance. b) Exceptionally, by decision of the competent Port Authority, following an updated opinion of the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization, the exact limits of a safe sea zone within which the approach of any floating motorized or non-motorized vehicle is exclusively permitted. c) The marking of the marine area of ​​c.b’ is mandatorily carried out under the responsibility of the Region of the Ionian Islands.

3. The prohibitions of access and approach and the conditions of controlled access herein are valid for a period of time from the issuance of this and until 31.10.2024 for the purpose of protecting visitors during the tourist season.

4. The violators of the present regardless of criminal or civil responsibilities are also subject to administrative sanctions in accordance with article 157 of the n.d. 187/1973 (A’ 261) and whose provisions, in terms of the amount, type of sanction and the manner of their enforcement, are applied accordingly by the personnel of the Hellenic Police. The Appendix is ​​attached and forms an integral part of this. The decision is valid from its publication in the Government Gazette. Athens, May 2, 2024.