Corinth Canal landslide anyone have latest dates

[Whiterose]

Just wondered if anyone had any recent information on when or if the Corinth canal is likely to be available to transit.I can’t find anything apart from the original statements.Ie It’s closed and could take 15 days to reopen but what is current situation?
Cheers forumite friends
Rich

 

[Irish Rover]

I spoke to them a few days ago and they hope to have definite news Wednesday. There’s a thread on this already.

 

[vas]

I spoke to them a few days ago and they hope to have definite news Wednesday. There’s a thread on this already.

IR, bad news I'm afraid, there was another "serious" landslide a couple of days ago and they even stopped the barge operating there and are considering more drastic solution. Not seen anything more on that, but I'm not really following the news the last 3-4 days as I'm abroad.

V.

 

[Irish Rover]

IR, bad news I'm afraid, there was another "serious" landslide a couple of days ago and they even stopped the barge operating there and are considering more drastic solution. Not seen anything more on that, but I'm not really following the news the last 3-4 days as I'm abroad.

V.

I got an official warning from the mods today about inappropriate language so all I can say is oh my gosh. Thanks for the update and if you hear any more please keep us posted.

 

[vas]

I got an official warning from the mods today about inappropriate language so all I can say is oh my gosh. Thanks for the update and if you hear any more please keep us posted.

got a warning and a deleted post for bad language, so I'll be very polite!

check this out and google translate the text:
http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/401496/nea-katolisthisi-sti-dioryga-tis-korinthoy-eikona

definitely doesn't look good, they are talking about going for a different approach which can only mean time for tendering, bringing the contractors, testing, reinforcing and then cleaning = say good bye to April.
Everytime I pass (OVER the canal) I'm amazed how all that land (it's not rock or anything) is actually staying in place on an almost vertical section.

V.

 

[Irish Rover]

got a warning and a deleted post for bad language, so I'll be very polite!

check this out and google translate the text:
http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/401496/nea-katolisthisi-sti-dioryga-tis-korinthoy-eikona

definitely doesn't look good, they are talking about going for a different approach which can only mean time for tendering, bringing the contractors, testing, reinforcing and then cleaning = say good bye to April.
Everytime I pass (OVER the canal) I'm amazed how all that land (it's not rock or anything) is actually staying in place on an almost vertical section.

V.

Thanks again. Looks like I’m definitely going the long way round.

 

[Irish Rover]

What follows is a Google Translate of the latest news I could find which was published yesterday.
New facts about Isthmus - When is expected to open
The Corinth Canal remains closed due to the landslides that occurred a few days ago and stopped the passage of the ships. With cranes and specialized airborne workers, work is continuing to remove the volumes expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Approximately 17,000 cubic meters are estimated to be the volumes that fell in the Corinth Canal due to landslides at the end of the previous month, according to the results of the relative titration.
The works continue on a daily basis with cranes and bulldozers in the sea, as well as specialized airborne workers who descend the isthmus vertically and with special tools remove the dangerous parts of the rock. This work also comes from the new volumes that fell over the weekend through the canal as it tries to remove all the points that could prove dangerous in the future in the event of a new heavy rainfall like the one on February 26.
Commercial, passenger and other types of ships can not pass these days through the canal which for this reason remains closed until the completion of the works. The only ships on the way are the trucks that have been cleaning up the waters. In particular, each lorry carries at least 5 routes a day and has the ability to safely transport volumes of up to 80 cubic meters per route. It is estimated that every day 800 cubic meters of volumes are removed and according to the timetable the work will be completed by the end of March, when the isthmus will be restored.
Companies whose ships pass through the route to the Corinthian Gulf, the Ionian Sea as well as foreign countries have been informed by the canal management company to organize charter flights while the work runs even on weekends as the tourist season is approaching and several cruise ships are expected to pass.

 

[Irish Rover]

Translation of the latest news [published 14/03 @ 08.30 Greek time]but nothing new -

They clean the Isthmus

Absolute confirmation of the loutraki365.gr, which since March 9 was the only Medium that informed you of what to follow ...
The Corinth Canal remains closed due to the landslides that occurred a few days ago and stopped the passage of the ships. With cranes and specialized airborne workers, as it had first written loutraki365.gr since 9 March, the projects for the removal of volumes are expected to be completed by the end of the month, as estimated by the administration of the Canal.

The works continue daily with cranes and bulldozers in the sea, as well as specialized airborne workers who descend vertically to the Isthmus and with special tools remove the dangerous parts of the rock. It is estimated that about 17,000 cubic meters are the volumes that fell into the Corinth Canal due to landslides at the end of the previous month, according to the results of the relative titration.

 

[Irish Rover]

The following is a translation of a press release issued yesterday evening by the Canal operating Company and it's good news hopefully
The rehabilitation works for the Corinth Canal channel are continuing steadily and rapidly. At the same time, work is being done to alleviate the slopes with specialized crews and to achieve the maximum safety of ship passages in the future.
Therefore, the opening time for the Canal is set at 26 March 2018.
The Company's Management must thank its employees, who work 24 hours a day to restore the channel's operation as soon as possible.

 

[vas]

yep, just aired on the news. apparently they've stopped servicing the banks for a good few years, no checks, no infrastructure work, hence where we are now. Mind I don't think they are somehow securing stuff, it looks like they just dump down whatever is loose, that's not really infrastructure work in my book, but yes looks like it's going to be ok for the first week of April. Good luck!

cheers

V.

 

[Irish Rover]

yep, just aired on the news. apparently they've stopped servicing the banks for a good few years, no checks, no infrastructure work, hence where we are now. Mind I don't think they are somehow securing stuff, it looks like they just dump down whatever is loose, that's not really infrastructure work in my book, but yes looks like it's going to be ok for the first week of April. Good luck!

cheers

V.

Thanks again for your help. Fingers and everything else crossed.

 

[NormanB]

Thanks to IR and Vas.
Can we keep this thread current and update as we hear developments?

Although it would be inconvient for me - I cannot see how it is economic to re-open the canal. Whatever they saved in not maintaining the hard engineering at wash level will be be spent x 10 in removing the fallen material. That still leaves the canal sides undermining the land above. The existence of a canal is not economically important to Greece these days (arguably it has not been since the 1950s) and it would costs billions to stabilise properly and that cost would be irrecoverable.

 

[Irish Rover]

From a local Greek internet site published today - no idea how old the video is.Impressive images by drone: Jobs at Corinthian Isthmus (video)
Impressive images recorded drone from the restoration work done daily at the Isthmus of Corinth.

It is worth mentioning that the ships, for as long as the Canal remains closed, are forced to make the round of the Peloponnese and 700 km of extra journey, instead of simply crossing the 6.4 km channel.

 

[Irish Rover]

I just spoke with the Canal company and they say they will be open for traffic on Monday.

 

[jordanbasset]

I just spoke with the Canal company and they say they will be open for traffic on Monday.

Yes but what about the boats

 

[Irish Rover]

Yes but what about the boats

That is just hilarious. So funny. You, my friend, are just a bundle of laughs.

 

[jordanbasset]

That is just hilarious. So funny. You, my friend, are just a bundle of laughs.

I try to help

 

[Irish Rover]

It looks like the guy I spoke to yesterday and asked if the Canal would be open Monday took my question literally and neglected to mention that it was already open. I found this on a local news website issued yesterday:
The Announcement of the Canal for the reopening of the Isthmus
24 Mar, 2018 | 19:11 By Alexandros Kandris 0 Comments
The Corinth Canal Company announced that "the rehabilitation work was completed and the Canal was delivered to circulation on Friday, March 23rd.
The Canal was delivered in full operation, with a normal draft, unrestricted, and within the time frame set.
Our Company has worked systematically, utilizing all of its human resources, from the very first moment of the phenomenon of landslides that arose from the continuous and intense rainfall of February. We must thank the Company's human resources, who from the very first moment worked with self-denial and methodism on a project that required 24-hour work.
We also want to thank our clients for their understanding in this space. "

 

[vas]

It looks like the guy I spoke to yesterday and asked if the Canal would be open Monday took my question literally and neglected to mention that it was already open. I found this on a local news website issued yesterday:

ah, that must have been a proper public servant then!
don't waste energy, just reply on exactly what have been asked (if you cannot avoid answering the phone that is...)

well done

have a safe trip!

V.

 

[Irish Rover]

ah, that must have been a proper public servant then!
don't waste energy, just reply on exactly what have been asked (if you cannot avoid answering the phone that is...)
well done
have a safe trip!

V.

Thanks again for your input. I'm heading to Preveza next Friday and I hope to launch on 02 April and start my trip on 04 April.