A new Presidential Decree on access to navigation for people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility will be submitted by the Ministry of Shipping in the autumn, Vassilis Kikilias announced.

The announcement was made after Mr Kikilias met with the President of the National Confederation of People with Disabilities (NCDD), Ioannis Vardakastanis and the President of the Association of Passenger Shipping Enterprises (SEEN), Dionysis Theodoratos. The two sides discussed accessibility for people with disabilities a few days after the furore caused by photos showing a disabled child travelling from Thassos without moving from the garage in the middle of a heatwave.

“The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, with the relevant bodies, has been working at the political level on the Presidential Decree (PD) we want to submit in the autumn, which concerns amendments to the PDs of 2011 and 2001 for conventional ships and high-speed vessels respectively, in the context of the inclusion of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility. Our goal is a more friendly and inclusive shipping industry, in terms of what it has to do with these people and our ports,” the minister said.

The Minister disclosed that the relevant plan is in its final stages of preparation and will form the basis for the implementation of mandatory accessibility rules for passenger ships. Its preparation is based on the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The new ID will include – among others – the following interventions:

Ramps with a maximum 5% slope for safe wheelchair movement.

Appropriately sized lifts with audible/visual indicators.

Lifts where it is not feasible to install a lift.

WCs with signage, handles and a help call system.

Cabins with a free turning circle and special beds.

Passenger and vehicle seating with a clear provision for people with reduced mobility.

Strong colour contrast on doors, edges and stairs for visually impaired people.

“There is no ample time in the future to let something like this continue to exist as it does now,” Kikilias said, clarifying that specific timelines have already been given to the ministry’s departments.

In addition, he announced the extension of the consultation with the Federation representing tourist ships, day vessels and ferry boats on ferries, noting that despite the technical difficulties in these categories, “in any case, we must always and first of all think that we must approach and treat these people with respect, professionalism and love.”

Below are the detailed statements of the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, the President of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities and the President of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.

Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Shipping and Island Policy:

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the President of E.S.P.A.A. and the President of SEEN for the very constructive meeting we had. The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, with the competent bodies, has been working on a political level on the Presidential Decree (PD) that we want to submit in the autumn, which concerns amendments to the PDs of 2011 and 2001 for conventional ships and high-speed vessels respectively, in the context of the inclusion of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility. We aim to create a more friendly and inclusive shipping industry, particularly in terms of its impact on people and our ports. That is where we will move towards. Because my view, always, is that things have to be regulated in their own time and there is no ample time in the future to allow something like this to continue to exist as it exists now, I want to say that I have given the ministry services specific timelines for this initiative, of course, we will also look at the other Federation which concerns the smaller ships, the “slippers”, the tourist ships, the daily ships, our ferries, where, of course, the conversions are more difficult but, in any case, we must always think and first of all that, with respect, with professionalism and with love we must approach and treat these people.

Ioannis Vardakastanis, President of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities:

“Today, with the Minister and the President of the SENI, we discussed an issue that usually comes up in the summer months, due to the increased traffic that exists in our shipping industry, and exists throughout the year. As last year, so this year, the problem occurred on the Keramoti – Thassos line. I believe that the approach that we agreed today with the Minister and Mr Theodoratos sets the basis for a serious and responsible approach and solution to this difficult issue. The Confederation approaches this case with great respect. First of all, we must stress that accessibility is a human rights issue and that, first and foremost, it must concern the people who live in the country, the people who travel all year round, especially from the islands to mainland Greece. On this basis, we can also offer our visitors an accessible, inclusive environment on the coast. We in the H.S.P.A. will work seriously, responsibly, based on common sense, to formulate the specifications, supervisory and verbal procedures, so that we can achieve our goal for both residents and those who visit us. I would also like to point out that the training of personnel on board ships, regardless of type and size, is a very, very important matter. In the event that on a ferry line a person needs to be assisted on deck, the worker assisting them must be trained in both dignified and safe movement.”

Dionysis Theodoratos, President of the Passenger Shipping Business Association:

Director of Transport Services of the European Union, Dionysus Dordogne, President of the Greek Maritime Transport Authority
Director of Transport Services, Dionysus Dordogne.
“We are here today at the initiative of the Minister of Shipping, together with the President of the E.S.P.A.A., to lay the foundations for the completion of the P.D., which we have discussed in the past period and have come very close with the E.S.P.A.A. Huge efforts have been made in recent years and I also stand on the issue of training that the President mentioned. The crews of some ships have already started training since last winter and are being trained by the S.S.P.A., so that they can offer upgraded services to our fellow human beings who need them. And I must stress here that, apart from the adaptation of the ship, the adaptation of the ports plays a very important role – the Minister has also stressed this – so that they too become passenger-friendly and, in particular, disability-friendly. Although there are now many ships in the shipping industry, the large ships in the shipping industry provide possibilities for people with disabilities to move with dignity and ease. I think we are going to improve the situation even further and, in combination with the ports, have a very good result. We are moving in the right direction much more quickly and with the Minister’s guidance as well.”