A deal to reduce by 50% the port charges at the ports of Heraklion and Igoumenitsa has been reached between Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias and the president of the Naples-based Grimaldi Group, Emmanuel Grimaldi. This development is considered particularly important for the support of the shipping industry, as it contributes to the containment of ticket prices, at a time of intense economic pressure on households and increased requirements to comply with European environmental rules.

The Grimaldi Group is the main shareholder of both the Port Authorities of Heraklion and Igoumenitsa (OLI and OLIG) and Minoan Lines. The agreement was reached yesterday morning during a meeting between the Minister and Emmanuel Grimaldi.

Immediately afterwards, the two men visited Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with Deputy Prime Minister Costis Hatzidakis present. The Italian businessman extended an official invitation to the Greek Prime Minister to attend an event to be held in June in Heraklion.

There, Mr Grimaldi is expected to present the new investment program of Minoan Lines, which includes the construction of two “green” ships, focusing on the transition to sustainable shipping. These ships are part of the group’s overall strategic plan to reduce its environmental footprint and invest in new technologies.

Grimaldi’s meeting with the Prime Minister was held in a very good atmosphere and reaffirmed the group’s interest in implementing serious green investments in the two ports as part of the green transformation.