Boatmen in the Greek Islands

During the 1980s, the traditional occupation of the boatman still survived on some Greek islands. In places without a suitable harbour where scheduled ferries could dock, the ship would remain at anchor offshore and lower its stern ramp. Smaller boats would approach, collect the passengers from the ramp, and carry them ashore.

From personal recollection, I remember this procedure being used at Oia on Santorini, on Therasia, and occasionally on Ikaria. At Oia and Therasia, I remember it being used by the Anemos, a ship owned by the Nomikos shipping family.

For several years, when buying a ticket on Santorini, a small slip of paper was stapled to it. As far as I remember, it referred to “boatmen’s dues” (lemvouchika dikaiomata). This was a small additional charge intended for the boatmen who had ceased performing their former work after the construction of the harbour.

Today, at least on Santorini, this old boat service survives mainly in the transportation of passengers from cruise ships that remain at anchor in the bay of Fira.