Central to the growing controversy is the revelation that the camera system on the Coast Guard vessel was not activated during the encounter. Credit: AMNA
The deadly collision between a Greek Coast Guard patrol boat and a migrant vessel off the coast of Chios on Tuesday night, February 3, 2026, has left at least 15 people dead and ignited a firestorm of questions over maritime safety protocols and the transparency of Greek authorities.
The tragedy occurred near Vrontados, when a high-speed Coast Guard vessel (identified in reports as PLS 1077) collided with an eight-meter speedboat carrying approximately 39 people, primarily of Afghan origin.
According to official statements from the Hellenic Coast Guard, the migrant boat was traveling without navigation lights and ignored multiple signals to stop, eventually executing a dangerous maneuver that resulted in it ramming the patrol boat’s starboard side. The impact was severe enough to capsize and sink the smaller vessel instantly, throwing all passengers into the water.
While Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris defended the Coast Guard’s actions in Parliament, labeling the incident a result of the “murderous” tactics of smugglers, human rights organizations and international bodies are demanding a more rigorous account. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called for “full clarity and transparency,” noting that tragedies of this nature are preventable.
The camera system on the Coast Guard vessel was not activated
Central to the growing controversy is the revelation that the camera system on the Coast Guard vessel was not activated during the encounter. According to reports, authorities have claimed that recording was “not deemed necessary” or that the rapid onset of the collision prevented activation.
This explanation has been met with deep skepticism by legal advocates and the political opposition. Critics point to a recurring pattern of “missing” footage in high-stakes maritime incidents, most notably the 2023 Pylos shipwreck, where over 600 people died under disputed circumstances.
Superficial damage?
According to reports and analysis of the images released by the Hellenic Coast Guard, the patrol boat PLS 1077 appears to have sustained only minor surface abrasions and superficial scratches on its starboard side.
Credit: Hellenic Coast Guard
This visual evidence has led to intense questioning from maritime experts and human rights organizations, who argue that if a vessel carrying nearly 40 people had truly rammed a patrol boat at high speed, the resulting structural damage—dents, hull breaches, or significant paint transfer—would be far more pronounced.
An “interception operation” gone wrong?
The humanitarian toll of the Chios collision is devastating. Among the 15 confirmed dead are 11 men and four women. Survivors brought to Chios General Hospital described a scene of chaos and violence. Medical staff confirmed that two pregnant women among the survivors suffered miscarriages due to the trauma, and at least three other individuals remain in critical condition with severe internal injuries.
The group Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) has characterized the event not as a failed rescue, but as an “interception operation” gone wrong. They argue that the overcrowded vessel was in “obvious distress” long before the collision and that the Coast Guard’s priority should have been search and rescue rather than deterrence.
As the Central Port Authority of Chios begins its official inquiry, the focus remains on whether the Coast Guard’s maneuvers contributed to the fatal impact. With no video evidence available, investigators must rely on survivor testimonies and GPS data to reconstruct the final moments of the vessel.
Related: Greece Charges 17 Coast Guards Over Deadly 2023 Migrant Shipwreck