On the occasion of the National Day for the Prevention of Marine Accidents and Drownings, on May 11, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, in cooperation with the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, held a special event on safety in the aquatic environment at the Institute of Merchant Marine History.

The event was attended by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias; the Secretary General for Shipping and Ports, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos; the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Kontorouchas; the Mayor of Vari Voula Vouliagmeni and First Vice-President, Mr. Grigoris Konstantellos; the President of the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, Panagiotis Paschalakis; the President of the Association of Lifeguard Schools, Marios Myronakis; as well as senior officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, stated:

“Protecting human life at sea and in the aquatic environment as a whole is our absolute priority. The fact that drownings decreased by 10% and that lifeguard coverage increased significantly is certainly a positive development. However, we must not, under any circumstances, become complacent.

Every human life lost is a loss that reminds us of our responsibility to continue our efforts in an even more targeted and effective way. We must constantly seek new ways of prevention, awareness and intervention, in order to save even one more human life.”

The President of Safe Water Sports, Mr. Paschalakis, first presented the Information System developed by the organization and provided free of charge to the Hellenic Coast Guard. Through this system, port authorities now electronically manage licenses for water sports and recreational craft businesses, inspections and checks carried out at sea, violations, and other related procedures.

He then presented the Accident Observatory, which records fatal accidents in the aquatic environment — at sea and in inland waters — for 2025. He characteristically noted:

“In 2025, a significant decrease was recorded in deaths at sea, with 31 fewer people losing their lives compared with 2024. This development fills us with cautious optimism, but at the same time reminds us that every human life lost in the aquatic environment is a loss that must mobilize us even further.

At the same time, lifeguard coverage increased significantly, reaching 97%. This is a particularly important achievement, especially considering that in 2015, when our organization was founded, lifeguard coverage stood at just 50%.

This progress is not the result of an isolated effort. It is the result of the collective work of everyone: the State, Local Government, lifeguards, competent authorities, and citizens themselves. Prevention, awareness, and constant vigilance are key factors in reducing deaths in the aquatic environment.”

The Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Kontorouchas, emphasized that the protection of human life at sea has always been a top priority for the Hellenic Coast Guard. Prevention, timely information, and the cultivation of a safety culture are key pillars in the effort to reduce accidents and losses in the aquatic environment, while safety at sea is a responsibility shared by all.

The Mayor of Vari Voula Vouliagmeni and First Vice-President, Mr. Grigoris Konstantellos, stated that since 2019, through his role in the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, he has been handling issues related to lifeguard coverage, with the aim of improving organization and protecting citizens. Through the Coast Guard’s system, it is now possible to measure, monitor, and evaluate results. In this way, needs can be identified, continuous improvements can be made, and safety on beaches and at sea can be strengthened.

Finally, the President of the Association of Lifeguard Schools, Marios Myronakis, stated that he hopes this year’s season will be better and safer for everyone.

The main figures presented were the following:

For 2025:

• 376 people lost their lives in the aquatic environment of our country, both at sea and in inland waters. Of these, 67% were men and 33% were women, while 71% were Greek nationals, 28% were of other nationalities, and 1% remains recorded as unknown.
• At sea, there was a decrease in fatal accidents, as 357 deaths were recorded in 2025, compared with 388 in 2024.
• At sea, 4 fatal accidents involving children were recorded.
• The municipalities with the highest number of deaths at sea were the Municipality of Rhodes, with 12 deaths, followed by the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, with 10 fatal accidents.
• 80% of the people who lose their lives at sea are elderly. For this reason, a major awareness campaign is carried out every year in cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Ministry of Health, and the National Public Health Organization, through informational videos, television broadcasts, and awareness sessions at Open Care Centers for the Elderly.
• Lifeguard coverage increased, reaching 97%, compared with 87% in 2024.
• In inland waters, 19 deaths were recorded.
• From 2021 to 2025, 1,867 deaths have been recorded in our seas.

You can read the Observatory of Accidents for 2025.