Erosion protection and maintenance, a beach protection zone to protect the boat and an underground tunnel leading to observatories for viewing from the cliffs. Cost 3-4 million euros and estimated project time 3- to 4 months. And all this to be auctioned before Winter sets in and the ship is lost
The working group of the National Technical University of Athens led by the professor presented a comprehensive study on the rescue of the famous “wreck” in Zakynthos on Saturday morning. Dimitris Kaliabakos. The Rector attended EMP Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou and local authorities together.
The initiative for the preparation of the study belongs to the Polytechnic itself, which “recruits” Professors and specialist scientists from the different schools of the institution, to deliver it and put it into the subsequent implementation process in a way that will emphasize the beauty of the island in a unique Greek way internationally.
This is the most comprehensive proposal submitted in recent years as it contains proposals for all the identified problems that have arisen in the area, including those related to accessibility and viewing.
The main directions of the study include maintaining, highlighting and protecting the ship, replenishing the coast so that the ship is not stressed by waves, creating a safe access zone and creating observatories through underground tunnels with an exit on the surrounding rock slopes the coast.
The members of the special scientific group have done an adequate analysis of how this will be done, leaving aside the issues related to the very large issue of ownership of the area, which will have to be resolved, if and when the proposal for the underground tunnels in question. implemented.
Speaking during the presentation of the study, Professor Dimitris Kaliambakos showed the cultural value of the ship and referred to the double purpose of the study, ie rescue and protection of corrosion and safe visitors to the Shipwreck.
REPRESENTATIVE’S SPEECH
Mr. Aktypis DionysisThe Member of Parliament for Zakynthos opened the curtain of the event for the Shipwreck and said the following:
“Scientists of the Metsov National Technical University have focused on a major problem facing Zakynthos for the past 40 years. We have the second most visited place in Greece, visited by 1 million people every year and are left to their own devices. This is the first time that some people have tackled the issue scientifically. Now, there is this ΄΄coveted΄΄ study that has been rumored for the last 10 years and never happened. In a short period of time, it was completed with a short procedure to prevent the worst and to save what we can save.”
The specific presentation had the direct aim of informing the people of Zakynthos about how ΄΄Panagiotis΄΄ will be repaired and at the same time the indirect aim of mobilizing them. In short, Zakynthians must take care of this ship first and then everyone else. Something that was seen and happened since many people showed interest in what will happen from now on.
Rector’s VIEW EMP
Mr. Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou, rector of the EMP This has been proven by the specific intervention. I don’t think any other institution in the country could take such a scientific approach to in-depth work. There is a group with a limited number of 39 people. It is very difficult to manage such a team of scientists. We succeeded because as a Polytechnic we are more approachable than anyone else.
The fact is that the work was completed in a very short time. 39 people worked for hundreds of hours. The Polytechnic spent a very large and respectable amount to complete this study. Excluding working hours. We did things that we ourselves had never done before. Therefore, we can also thank the local community for giving us this opportunity. At this moment, you will know what the bottom is. It’s something that doesn’t happen every day. I was very impressed that I saw a degree there at some point as well. You will also see the measurement of the waves and the rise of the sea. For all this we needed our own spaces. Tools we didn’t have and bought.
Of course, we also overcame all the procedural problems because the Polytechnic is Public. He can’t spend money that easily but we did it because we have the special research fund account and it gives us that flexibility. Even the final details are all about this. I would also like to point out that there are no rockfall tsunamis.
Everyone who worked on this performance project saw not only some ΄΄scrap metal΄΄ but a ΄΄body΄΄. The study of the Shipwreck gave many answers but at the same time it stimulated interest in the ΄΄deep΄΄ research carried out around this rusty ship washed up in the mountains.
PROJECT COORDINATOR CENTER
Mr. Dimitris Kaliabakos, the Coordinator of the EMP project team made the first presentation of the study by presenting it on the Shipwreck and said the following: About 3 months ago you tortured me in the Municipal Council to reveal something to you about the study . It’s time to hear it all together in one nice package. Then it was important not to reveal details because until the last minute we were “fighting” about it.
The polytechnic has spent more than 100,000 euros on the purchase of equipment, travel and also on the purchase of external services. We did not do the work from Athens but spent 100 days in Zakynthos. Some of them you saw and some you didn’t. The work was done on the Shipwreck. What is not measured in quantity is the effort to achieve the best result.
At the Municipal Council that was held there we were told that there will be a change in the way in which ΄΄Panagiotis΄ will be seen. It hides an interesting story behind it.
THE DISCLOSURE OF RESULTS:
The first element states that the Shipwreck has great cultural value. It is easy for us to recognize the economic value but the love of billions of people around the world gave the Wreck a very strong cultural value. The Polytechnic staff treat the Shipwreck as a monument. Regardless of the characteristics and laws, the Shipwreck won the love of millions of people.
The second element is that Zakynthos is only the Shipwreck. We say this and we mean it. We firmly believe that Zakynthos is a bet to discover culture and history. The Shipwreck should be used as an open window for someone to come and get to know Zakynthos. The way we highlight the Shipwreck is something that educates the visitor to look beyond the image.
The third element relates to shaping the world community’s relationship with the Shipwreck. What interests people is the danger that exists in such a beautiful landscape. This relationship in which it is based is based on an authenticity that we must protect.
The Shipwreck is in imminent danger of breaking up. This new comment developed from above is made on unacceptable terms! The above dangers must be dealt with immediately.
THE THE PROPOSAL IS SUBMITTED:
The Polytechnic team did not come to find out, but they came to offer a solution. The attitude of an engineer is not to analyze a situation and say how far it goes. The team focused itself and set the goal to find a solution to rescue the Shipwreck but also to find a solution for safe visitors.
The first thing what we have proposed is a strong anti-corrosion protection of the Wreck”. The Wreck should be protected as if it were in the sea. We left it unprotected for 40 years and today we have to exhaust even the most technological word So that we can form an imperceptible but highly effective anti-corrosion protection in which it will be protected not only from a corrosive environment but also from the constant corrosion it receives.
The IS second thing that is, we will build but strengthen the defense zone of Panagiotis and the small coast in front of it. Ms. Tsoukala’s team chooses and chooses the least intervention form, ie the replenishment of the coast in front of ΄΄Panagiotis΄΄, which is at the same time the most difficult in terms of design. We are not going with great technical project tools to tame the sea. Basically, we are going to understand its mechanisms and collaborate with the sea. So, a coast that is very likely to have had it before us again, let’s fix it there.
What about Shipwrecked traffic? Our current answer is YES that the Shipwreck can be visited from the sea today. Under conditions that meet international safety standards.
About the view from the cliffs The point is this: people go overboard because they have an exciting experience. Our team understood from the start that if we didn’t find a proper solution to this, bans alone wouldn’t do the job. So, the difficult problem we had to solve was how to offer safe traffic to thousands of people and leave the area’s wonderful landscape intact and give something more at the same time. The proposal for underground access is almost at ground level. An invisible tunnel, which forms an exterior in the most beautiful part of the Shipwreck. From there visitors can enjoy a completely safe experience of the area.
This project is usually a construction project. Many things will come up along the way. The Legislature has foreseen it. The Polytechnic level of analysis has done it again. It is enough to issue a tender for this construction and this is our proposal.
Our estimate of the cost of this project is 3 to 4 million euros. It’s a safe bet.
The estimated time of completion of the particular project with good planning but also due to the urgent need to take the measures then it can be executed within 3 months. We are in a state of emergency.
The EMP will remain, if the local community and its agencies wish, as an unpaid Consultant for the project, until its completion.
Sofia VARDAKASTANI – OLGA GOUSKOU