Companies organizing ferry services between Cesme and Greece’s Chios Island decided not to operate on October 12-13 due to a strike. The companies sailing between the two coasts claimed that following Greece’s increase in the International Ship Port Security Service fee, a retroactive collection request was made.

Turkish companies Turyol and Ertürk, which operate ferry services between Cesme and Chios Island, along with Greek companies Sunrise and Tilos canceled their reciprocal sailings on October 12 and 13 and closed ticket sales and reservations on their websites with a message stating, “Canceled due to strike.”

Speaking to journalists about the issue, Turyol’s External Affairs Officer Kadir İnandı stated that Greece raised the International Ship Port Security Service fee from 0.5 euros per person to 5 euros on June 10, 2024. İnandı argued that following the collection of this fee, island municipalities were authorized; noting that municipalities on islands such as Lesbos, Samos, and Kastellorizo did not request this fee for the summer season. He claimed that during their meeting with Chios Island Municipality, they were promised that tickets sold until June 10 would be exempt from the implementation, and efforts would be made to postpone the implementation until the end of the season. İnandı mentioned that they handed over all tickets cut until June 10 to the municipality upon their direction, stating, “The season ended, and we are faced with a problem that will financially burden us. As Turyol, Ertürk, Sunrise, and Tilos ferry companies operating between Cesme and Chios Island, we collectively decided not to operate on October 12-13, 2024.”

750,000 EURO PAYMENT İnandı explained that a 750,000 euro payment was issued to the 4 companies operating between the two coasts, which they found unacceptable, and mentioned that if the requested collection for this season is not canceled, they will expand the strike action. Nezihe Ertürk, a representative of Ertürk company, stated that ticket sales started before the season opening and a significant number of tickets were sold until the decision to increase the International Ship Port Security Service fee, highlighting that retroactive collection requests caused distress for the companies.