Coast Guard to Conduct Major Oil Spill Exercise Greek City Times

Athens, March 28, 2026 – Greece is stepping up preparedness amid heightened regional tensions, with the Hellenic Coast Guard schedu

led to hold large-scale exercises on March 31 near Elefsina to simulate the consequences of a strike on an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.

The exercise, which will be attended by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias, aims to test emergency response capabilities, coordination between agencies, and the speed of reaction in the event of a drone or ballistic missile attack on a tanker that causes a major oil spill.

According to the Ministry, the scenario involves a strike resulting in marine pollution, triggering the full activation of oil spill containment and cleanup mechanisms. Participants will include Hellenic Coast Guard forces, private companies specializing in pollution control, as well as vessels, equipment, and personnel responsible for environmental protection.

Special emphasis will be placed on coordination with regional and local authorities, including municipalities, port organizations, and other relevant services.

In parallel, similar preparedness exercises will be conducted at all port authorities across the country to strengthen national-level readiness.

Minister Kikilias stressed that such drills are essential due to the increased risks stemming from international instability.

“In the framework of preventive measures, under conditions of global instability and unpredictable events, we are obliged to develop scenarios and train our personnel in order to effectively protect the marine environment and our coastlines,” the Minister stated.

He added that the main goal of the exercises is to verify the rapidity of response, the mobilization of all available resources, and the effectiveness of cooperation between state and private entities.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of recent attacks on Greek-owned and Greek-flagged vessels in the Black Sea and other areas, as well as broader threats to maritime security in the region.

GCT Team

This article was researched and written by a GCT team member.