Sailing Together: Attica Group Wraps Up 5th Environmental Initiative on Lesvos

Attica Group’s “Sailing Together” program on Lesvos. Photo source: Attica Group.

Attica Group, a leading company that offers ferry services for passengers, vehicles and cargo, recently concluded its fifth initiative aimed at cleaning the seabed and protecting marine life on the Greek island of Lesvos.

Following previous successful environmental initiatives in Naxos, Kos, Santorini, and Paros, Lesvos was chosen as the next destination under the “Sailing Together” program.

The endeavor involved 62 Attica Group employees, supported by six family members, along with 20 volunteers from Aegean Rebreath. Together, they carried out underwater and coastal cleaning activities at Panagiouda port, as well as beach cleaning at the northern part of Panagiouda palm forest.

The initiative was supported by the island authorities and was carried out in collaboration with various organizations, including the Municipality of Mytilene, Panagiouda aillage authorities, the Mytilene Port Authority, the Municipal Port Fund of Lesvos, the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities, and the Aegean University Department of Oceanography and Marine Life Sciences.

Local and refugee groups also offered their assistance in the project by providing either their fishing boat to facilitate the cleaning efforts or volunteering.

Over the course of the initiative, volunteers collected and sorted various items from the seabed, including 1,890 objects and 15 sacks of plastic and synthetic polymer items, 69 wheels and tires, 212 textile objects, 589 metallic objects, 124 glass and ceramic items, 21 paper and cardboard objects, 50 kg of nets, and 1,000 kg of chemicals such as oils and tar.

Attica Group’s “Sailing Together” program on Lesvos. Photo source: Attica Group.

In addition to the cleaning activities, a sampling operation was conducted to detect and collect microplastics from Chryssi Ammos beach.

These initiatives serve to foster a spirit of volunteering and cooperation among Attica Group employees while raising awareness within local communities about vital environmental protection, circular economy, and sustainable development issues.

Attica Group is a prominent player in passenger shipping, operating through renowned brands such as Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, and Africa Morocco Link. With a fleet of 35 modern vessels, the company provides high-quality transportation services both in Greece and abroad. Attica Group’s ships serve 61 unique destinations in four countries, connecting 79 ports and transporting over six million passengers, one million passenger vehicles, and 500,000 trucks annually.