The Joint Ministerial Decision of four ministers (Civil Protection, Maritime and Island Policy, Tourism and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection) was published in the Government Gazette, which provides for the prohibition of access to the Zante Shipwreck, both on the beach from the sea and from the land, from the so-called plateau.

According to the EIS, the prohibitions in force last year remain in full: No traffic and approach – anchoring of boats, nor swimming by passengers on board the boats anywhere in the bay and specifically in the sea area inside the imaginary line, which connects the two ends (north and south) of the bay. As far as the plateau is concerned, access by visitors is prohibited, with a prohibition limit of 10 metres from the edge of the slope.

The EIS on measures to prohibit visitor access to the area of the Zante Shipwreck.

The prohibition of visitor access to the bay of ‘Zakynthos Shipwreck’ as follows:

1. a) The prohibition of access and approach to the “Prohibited Zone” and the “Controlled Access Zone”, as shown in the Annex accompanying this document and as mentioned in the 15.4.2024 a.p. 1032 Risk Assessment of the Zante Shipwreck Area of the OASP.

b) The prohibition of access to the top of the slope and the plateau that exists on the front of the slope and borders a visitor access road, with a prohibition limit of 10 meters from the slope boundary and the placement of appropriate signage.

c) The exceptional approach to the free access zone as shown in the attached Annex and mentioned in the 15.4.2024 with a.p. 1032 Risk Assessment in the Zante Shipwreck Area of the OASP, which includes the area defined by the DG points and has as its boundary the wreck of the ship “Panagiotis”, exclusively and only in cases of emergency and assistance.

2. a) The prohibition of traffic and the prohibition of the approach and anchoring of any floating motorized or non-motorized means, as well as the prohibition of bathing by bathers in the sea area inside the imaginary line which connects the two (02) ends (north and south) of the Bay “Shipwreck” of Zakynthos.

The approach to this 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 Earthquake Planning and Protection Agency, the exact boundaries of the safe sea area within which the approach of any floating motorised or non-motorised craft is exclusively permitted may be defined.

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c) The marking of the sea area of point b’ shall be carried out under the responsibility of the Region of the Ionian Islands.

3. The access and approach bans and controlled access conditions of this document are valid for a period of time from the adoption of this document until 31.10.2024 in order to protect visitors during the tourist season.

4. The violators of the present, regardless of criminal or civil liability, are also subject to administrative sanctions in accordance with Article 157 of Law 187/1973 (A’ 261) and whose provisions, as regards the amount, type of sanction and the way of its enforcement, are applied accordingly by the personnel of the Hellenic Police.

The Annex is attached hereto and forms an integral part of this Decision. The Decision shall enter into force upon its publication in the Government Gazette. Athens, 2 May 2024.