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Tag: greece | Page 2 | Ferry Shipping News

Mar 17
4

Energy crisis “brings” ferry ticket increase in Greece

By | 2022 Newsletter week 11 | No Comments

On March 15, 2022, SEEN (Association of Passenger Shipping Companies) met with the Hellenic Minister of Shipping and Island Policy and informed him about the forthcoming serious impact of the energy crisis that has already affected the Hellenic Coastal Shipping, threatening tourism as well as the islanders’ cost of living.

More specifically, SEEN urged for support measures by the government for the summer season, otherwise, there will be an increase in ferry ticket prices up to 25% (for passengers and vehicles).

At the same time, they are examining solutions such as speed reduction, unified sailings as well as reduction of the sailings’ frequency (ANEK-Blue Star Ferries announced recently such a reduction on the Piraeus – Chania line for the next four Saturdays, 19 March – 9 April 2022).

Furthermore, SEEN underlined that the additional operating costs due to expensive fuels exceed EUR 280 million on an annual basis, while they made seven proposals to the Minister in order to deal with the current situation.

  • Imposition of a “ceiling” on marine fuel prices based on the average price of last December
  • Temporary reduction of VAT to 6% and its return to 13% when fuel prices fall to last December’s level
  • Enhancement of liquidity with the immediate payment of more than EUR 42 million owed by the state to the ferry companies for subsidized lines which have already been done
  • Subsidizing employers’ contributions as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak
  • Announcement of additional public service lines as happened during the pandemic
  • Increase at least by 30% of subsidies for the existing one-year duration barren lines
  • Temporary suspension of mandatory discounts

Source: newmoney.gr

Nov 11
4

Greek Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis: Short-haul ships could be electric in the future

By | 2021 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

On the occasion of the 26th United Nations Conference in Glasgow, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an interview to SkyNews. The interview focused on energy and maritime policy, among others. The basic parts of that interview are:

 

Question: Greece owns about one-fifth of the world’s fleet. Shipping is one of the activities that is most responsible for emissions right now. How can this be stopped?

Pr. Minister: Let’s put things in perspective. 90% of world trade is done by ship. Shipping is responsible for 3% of world emissions. It’s not trivial, but it’s not huge. Shipping should take its share. But it is not clear what technology will solve the problem. That’s why we need more research and development (R&D). We need to focus more on the solutions that are currently being developed.

Question: Are we talking about nuclear-powered ships or hydrogen-powered ships?

Pr. Minister: No, hydrogen is probably the most likely scenario. But we are the managers and we have to work with the shipyards, we have to work with the manufacturers of large machinery types. They are the ones who will guide the technological innovations. Shipping will be the customer of the technology, they will produce. But at the same time, we need to have a vision for the future of shipping. That is why we are setting up, in cooperation with the European Union, a research institute to explore the future of sustainable shipping. Because honestly now we do not have the answer.

Finally, referring to the prospects of energy transition of the Hellenic Coastal Fleet, the Greek Prime Minister stressed the following: “…when we talk, for example, about shipping and short-haul ships, one could imagine that these ships could be electric in the future.”

Source: Athens News Agency – Photo: Elektra

May 20
2

Travelling By Ferry In Greece (Summer 2021)

By | 2021 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

On 14 May 2021, the Greek Minister of Shipping and Island Policy announced the revised health protocols concerning the transports by ferry in view of the summer season 2021. More specific:

  • The capacity of ferries with cabins increased to 85%
  • The capacity of ferries without cabins increased to 80%
  • The capacity of the High-Speed Crafts that have special filters increased to 80% as well

Furthermore, passengers that wishing to travel by ferry should have:

  • either a vaccination certificate (14 days after the second dose)
  • a 72-hour PCR test or a 24-hour rapid test or a 24-hour self-test or a certificate of illness (2 months after disease and up to 9 months)
  • all domestic and foreign travelers, over the age of 5, are obliged to carry these special documents
  • the ferry companies will carry out all the necessary control checks on the documents mentioned
Feb 11
1

Hellenic Ministry Of Shipping Decides Further Financial Support For The Hellenic Coastal Shipping

By | 2021 Newsletter week 6 | No Comments
  • The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy decided further financial support to the Greek Ferry Operators by EUR 12 million
  • The total financial support package for the Hellenic Coastal Shipping is EUR 67 million
  • A series of measures for the support of seafarers are still into force (special purpose compensation, unemployment benefits, extension of the insurance of unemployed seafarers, subsidization of the employer’s contributions for the active seafarers, partially financial support -by the State- for the rents of the unemployed seafarers
  • The measures to support maritime labour have a total cost of EUR 15 million
Nov 12
0

Hellenic Coastal Lines: Measures for the November Lockdown

By | 2020 Newsletter week 46 | No Comments

According to a new Ministerial Decision, the measures taken concerning the operation of the Coastal Shipping in Greece from November 1 to November 30, 2020 are as follows:

  • Only the permanent residents of the islands will be allowed to travel by passenger or passenger ferries
  • Passengers without face masks will not be allowed to embark on board ferries
  • The allowed ferry capacity is set at 50%, or 55% if they have cabins
  • The operation of all types of ships and boats, including private excursion boats and commercial tourist ships, boats and sea taxis from mainland Greece to the islands and vice versa, as well as between of the islands is forbidden
  • The arrival of cruise ships is prohibited, regardless of the flag for the ship. Cruise ships, that are already in Greek waters can continue without disembarking the passengers in the ports of approach, except the planned final port of the cruise, if it is Greek.
May 28
0

FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2020 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Minoan To Launch A New Connection Between Patras, Igoumenitsa And Venice

From next June 4, and until the end of the summer season, Grimaldi Group will link Italy and Greece with a new ropax service calling at the ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa and Venice (Marghera).

This new service was revealed by some media in Greece and already on the website of Grimaldi Group-controlled Minoan Lines.

The Visentini ropax VENICE (former CIUDAD DE CADIZ) will be deployed on the route and the frequency will be twice a week, thus competing with the Greek ferry company Anek Lines.

Grimaldi has been serving the line between Venice, Bari and Patras since 2015 bust just for cargo shipments and currently there are two ro-ro ships serving this line (EUROCARGO GENOVA and EUROCARGO ALESSANDRIA).

Mar 19
0

Greece

By | 2020 Newsletter week 12 | No Comments

The Hellenic Government decided on 15 March:

  • Interruption of passenger sea transport to and from Italy. The transport of goods and freights continues.
  • Ban on cruise liners and sailboats calls in the Greek ports.

All Greek ferry operators that serve the Patras-Ancona and Bari runs announced a conversion-cancellation of tickets on the Adriatic Sea due to the Corona Virus. This policy will be valid until April 3, 2020 and will apply for tickets that have a travel date up to April 30. This policy will be revised if necessary.

Α legislative initiative –with immediate appliance- is expected by the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping which will contain measures that will tackle with the problems encountered mainly in Hellenic Coastal Shipping, in order to maintain the necessary connection of the islands with the inland country as well as the smooth operation of ships flying the Greek flag. Among the measures that are examined are:

  • Allow only permanent island residents to travel
  • Citizens who are not permanent island residents, must prove their necessity to travel to the islands
  • The obligation of passengers to notify -with an official statement- if they come from abroad and from which country.
  • Decontamination of all the ferries’ public areas/spaces on regular basis
  • Maintain the ferry lines given the reduced passenger traffic. The state consider even to subsidy the ferry operators because of the emergency situation
  • Revision of the current sea transport network if it becomes necessary
  • The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping estimates that the crisis is severe and some shipping companies may face a sustainability problem.

It should be noted that according to Michalis Sakellis, president of the Association of Passenger Maritime Enterprises, passenger traffic in the upcoming summer season in Greece is expected to be worse than the winter season which is 20% lower than last year.