The 50% reduction in port charges will make a significant contribution to the effort to contain prices on ferry tickets, in view of the increases announced by shippers from May 1 due to the fuel change, the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias.

Regarding high-speed vessels, he said that these vessels already consume fuel, noting that the Ministry of Shipping expects some significant reaction from this part of the market.

It should be noted that due to EU environmental regulations, for this date, the Mediterranean Sea becomes a SECA (Sulphur Emission Control Area), which means that any fuel used on ships over 5,000 gt should have a sulphur content of just 0.001%, which is more expensive.

“The government is enabling Greeks to travel to our islands.”

Kikilias, on the occasion of the tabling of the relevant amendment in Parliament that provides for a 50% reduction in port fees, said that the Ministry of Shipping, even though for some it is misunderstood, has a social aspect, and when there are needs, they push for changes and reforms.

He stressed that, indeed, the climate crisis has pushed Europe to move in a certain way, highlighting that as of May 1, shipping throughout Europe is changing the type of fuel on ships, which has a different blend and is more expensive.

“The government wants to protect the people and the Greek society by giving Greeks the opportunity to travel to our islands,” the minister said, describing insularity as an advantage.

Vassilis Kikilias also pointed out that seafood, along with tourism, is currently the largest part of the Greek economy and contributes to the country’s GDP. He also said that “at this moment there are no money trees and there can be no populist politics and I think that the government on the opposite side has shown that if there are ways of cooperation, imagination and hard work, the bar can be found that will give a signal of support to the market in favour of the citizens”, he added: “After a lot of study and a lot of work, an amendment I tabled yesterday reduced the fees at the ports by 50% to avoid a burden on ferry tickets due to the fuel change from May 1 and also on the commercial part, but not with the cruise sector.”

The Minister of Shipping added that the PPA and the PPA and the PPA after negotiation, responded immediately to the initiative to assist in this effort, and the others will follow.

“Through this initiative, a significant amount will be saved and this will be seen to be deducted from the ferry tickets,” he said, adding that “it is a first step of great importance by giving the signal to the market and we will not have to wait in the middle of the tourist season and look for the average Greek family if they can take the car and travel to the Greek islands.” “We are in a balance at the moment, and I want to take into account that the fuel changes do not concern speedboats, so we expect a significant reaction from this part of the market, and I would like to note that we have other weapons in our quiver,” he added.

Referring to the municipalities, he said that from the reduction of port fees they will not lose, but instead will gain the equivalent given by the Greek government in subsidies to ports for green development and investment – and at this point he thanked the vice president of the government, Kostis Hatzidakis, who is also responsible for coordinating economic policy, Energy and Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Interior Minister Thodoris Livanios, as well as the responsible Deputy Ministers of Finance, Thanos Petralias and Environment Minister Nikos Tsafas.
On investments in ports, he said many of them have been stuck due to bureaucracy, but added that specific initiatives will be taken on digitization, artificial intelligence, and investments.

For the Coast Guard

Referring to the Coast Guard, he described it as a glorious body, as he said men and women offer their services daily, and added that “if there are any ‘rotten fruits’, this will be found by the judiciary”.

“We are sending these people with 8 and 9 Beaufort, day and night, to fight in the Aegean Sea and now in the open sea south of Crete for the protection of human life, the fight against crime and for humanitarian aid,” Mr. Kikilias, referring to the modern slave traders, said that “it is a multi-million dollar business and announced a horizontal control for some NGOs”, noting that he will go to the prosecutor’s office himself.

Naval training

The Shipping Minister issued a call from the Forum for young men and women to go into the maritime sector, highlighting the comparative advantages of the sector and talking about well-paid jobs that young people could do for 10-15 years and build their lives and the future of their children.

He spoke of significant advantages in salary for a young child who wants to follow the maritime profession, pointing out that now ships are not like they used to be but have everything a young person needs, from internet and satellite phone to be able to communicate with his family every hour.

Kikilias also said that in the autumn, the people of the shipping market, the employees, and the Ministry of Shipping should come up with a concrete plan, as the discussions have been going on for a long time and the country needs top-notch maritime education, which we are seeking.