Turkish shipowners have taken over the reigns of transport to and from the Aegean islands. Greek shipowners from the islands of Chios, Mytilene, Kos and Rhodes have either withdrawn or have become agents for Turkish carriers so as to ensure their survival. A number of Turkish ferries have left their regular routes at the Bosphorus Strait for a bite of the East Aegean.

Helped by their government that is offering ports situated across the Greek islands to private owners, Turkish shipowners are free to set prices and the rules of the game. Data shows 220,000 passengers moved along the Marmaris-Rhodes route alone, offering the Turkish carrier 3.5 million euros.

“The dangers and consequences of the crisis on shipping cannot be doubted and there is the need for action to be taken here and now more than ever before,” say shipping officials when questioned by Proto Thema. “There are already alarm sirens sounding in the ears of all those involved in shipping concerning foreign funds that are interested in reinforcing the company’s funds so as to increase their liquidity making the situation unsustainable. If this occurs, then the sector will no longer be in Greek hands.”

Greek ship owners point to Turkish billionaires who are interested in having supremacy over transport rights in the Aegean. “They’ve already gained control of the east Aegean and transport between Greek islands and the Turkish coast. They’ve already set foot in the Aegean,” say Greek sources who are being shouldered out of business in the area.

There are fears that it is only a matter of time when foreign carriers, possibly from Turkey, will cover the needs of Greek islands, something that will be to the detriment of local shipowners and Aegean islanders.

Indebted shipping companies are doing their best to survive though Greek commercial fleets fell from 125 ships in 2001 to 57 ships in 2015. Simultaneously, subsidies for transport to remote routes has dropped with islanders living in these areas to feel isolated.

In 2009, the cost of covering isolated routes was at 130 million euros, 110 million euros in 2010, 84,750,000 euros in 2015 and 75 million euros estimated for the next year.