The Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Ministry and the Shipping and Island Policy Ministry in cooperation with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) are planning to grant immediately licences for the construction of waterways on the islands of Paxoi, Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Lefkada as well as in Patras aiming to create the first network of waterways in Greece.

The first waterway in Greece will operate at the port of Corfu, while procedures for the licencing of another 50 waterways are underway.

“Our efforts will focus on the Ionian Sea,” Angelos Vlachos, member of HRADF board of directors, told ANA-MPA after a meeting held which was also attended by Chinese investors of the European seaplanes construction company Dornier Seastar.

“We believe that a small waterways network will be ready in the coming months and now rests on the side of the companies to attract airlines and to see seaplanes in the waters of the Ionian Sea within 2016,” Vlachos said.

The president of Dornier Seastar, Conrado Dornier, said: “I am pleasantly surprised from the fact that many things have progressed in Greece over the last year and we are interested in completing our investment plans for our new seaplanes in Greece … We will finally be able to connect the sky with the sea.”