Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy (Greece) Works to Improve Maritime Industry and Island Policy

The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy in Greece is working hard to improve the maritime industry and island policy. They are focusing on the development of the country's ports, which will increase efficiency and competitiveness.

The ministry is also investing in the renovation and modernization of existing ports, as well as the construction of new ones. This will help to boost the country's economy and create new job opportunities.

One of the key goals of the ministry is to improve the quality of life for island residents. They are working to upgrade the infrastructure and services on the islands, making it easier for people to live and work there.

The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy in Greece has a rich history that spans several decades. It was established in 1972 as a separate ministry, reflecting the country's growing focus on maritime affairs and island development.

The ministry's early years were marked by a significant increase in shipping activity, with Greece's merchant fleet growing rapidly. This growth was driven in part by the country's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In 1996, the ministry underwent a significant reorganization, with its responsibilities expanding to include island policy. This change reflected the government's growing recognition of the importance of island regions in the country's overall development.

The ministry's role in promoting island development has been crucial in addressing the unique challenges faced by island communities. These challenges include limited access to resources, infrastructure, and services, which can make it difficult for islanders to access basic necessities like healthcare and education.

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy has taken significant steps to support coastal shipping and island entrepreneurship during the Covid-19 pandemic. They've provided over EUR 33.7 million in liquidity to alleviate these industries.

One of the key decisions was to support island businesses with EUR 11.2 million, which will help them stay afloat during this challenging time. This funding will enable them to continue operating and providing essential services.

To ensure maritime transport services to island regions, an additional EUR 15 million has been secured. This is a crucial investment, as it will help maintain the flow of goods and people to these areas. So far, EUR 3.5 million have already been contracted for minimum shipping services in 29 lines of the national and local shipping network.

The Ministry has also implemented a policy to provide advance payment equal to 50% of the leases for public service contracts in coastal shipping. This will benefit businesses that were affected by the pandemic and need financial support. The estimated amount for this policy is EUR 7.5 million.

Vassilis Kikilias is the new minister of shipping and island policy in Greece, replacing Christos Stylianides.

Kikilias is 50 years old and has a background in medicine, having been a trained doctor.

He previously served as minister for health under prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Kikilias has also been serving as climate change minister, but his experience in the maritime sector is limited.

As a former basketball professional, Kikilias brings a unique combination of skills to the role.

Upgrading the country's maritime education system is one of Kikilias' priorities as the new minister.

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping has made some significant decisions to support the coastal shipping industry. They've provided a total of EUR 67 million in financial support, with EUR 12 million being a recent addition to help Greek Ferry Operators.

The ministry has also introduced a series of measures to support seafarers, including special purpose compensation, unemployment benefits, and subsidization of employer's contributions. These measures have a total cost of EUR 15 million.

In another move, the ministry decided to provide EUR 33.7 million in liquidity to coastal shipping and island entrepreneurship. This includes EUR 11.2 million to support island businesses, EUR 15 million to ensure maritime transport services to island regions, and EUR 7.5 million in advance payments for public service contracts.

Here are the key points of the ministry's support for coastal shipping:

Safety and Security is a top priority for the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy in Greece. The Ministry has increased the passenger capacity on board coastal ferries to 80% and 85% on ships with cabins, while maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between passengers.

Mandatory face mask use has been enforced inside and outside ferries from August 4 to August 18, 2020. This is a crucial measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry has also emphasized the importance of safety, particularly in coastal shipping, with Minister Stylianidis stating that safety is a "non-negotiable" aspect of the ministry's agenda. No tolerance for delays or bureaucratic inefficiencies is tolerated.

To ensure compliance, fines have been imposed for any violations of the provisions and measures. For passengers, naval agents, and crew members, the administrative fine is 150 euros, while for ship-owners, operators, and ship masters, it is 1,000 euros.

Here's a breakdown of the fines:

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy has taken significant steps to support coastal shipping and island entrepreneurship, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

EUR 33.7 million in liquidity has been provided to alleviate these sectors, with a focus on supporting island businesses with EUR 11.2 million. This financial assistance aims to help island businesses recover from the pandemic's economic impact.

The ministry has also secured EUR 15 million to ensure maritime transport services to island regions, with EUR 3.5 million already contracted for minimum shipping services in 29 lines of the national and local shipping network.

To support coastal shipping, the ministry is offering an advance payment equal to 50% of the leases for public service contracts for the months February, March, and April, estimated to reach EUR 7.5 million.

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping has assigned a study to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the coastal shipping industry. The study, titled "Study of impact analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in the coastal shipping industry", will be conducted by Deloitte Business Solutions at a cost of EUR 24,800.

The study is expected to be completed within two months from the date of signing the contract. This research will provide valuable insights into the effects of the pandemic on the coastal shipping industry.

The study is co-financed by the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, and the Cohesion Fund under the Operational Program "Technical Assistance 2014-2020". This funding will help ensure the study's thoroughness and accuracy.

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping has also allocated EUR 33.7 million to support coastal shipping and island entrepreneurship. This support will help alleviate the financial burden caused by the pandemic on these industries.

There was a significant increase in passenger traffic at the major Greek ports in July and August 2023.

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy's data shows that from July 1 to August 15, 2023, there was an increase in passenger traffic by 6.58%.

A total of 3,140,906 passengers were transported from the country's three major ports (Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrion) compared to 2,946,747 passengers during the same period in 2022.

In August alone, passenger traffic increased by 4.37% compared to the same period in 2022, with 1,118,445 passengers transported.

Here's a comparison of the passenger traffic numbers:

These numbers demonstrate a notable increase in passenger traffic at the major Greek ports, which is a positive sign for the shipping industry in Greece.

The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy (Greece) has had several ministers in charge of insular policy and Aegean policy over the years. Georgios Voulgarakis took office on 19 September 2007 and left office on 13 September 2008, serving under the Second Cabinet of Kostas Karamanlis.

Anastasios Papaligouras succeeded Voulgarakis, taking office on 13 September 2008 and leaving office on 7 October 2009. Giannis Diamantidis, from PASOK, took office on 30 September 2010 and left office on 27 June 2011, serving under the Cabinet of George Papandreou.

Here is a list of some of the key ministers in charge of insular policy and Aegean policy in Greece:

The Hellenic Ministry of Shipping has stepped up to support island entrepreneurship with a significant funding boost. The Ministry is providing EUR 33.7 million in liquidity to alleviate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on coastal shipping and island businesses.

A significant portion of this funding, EUR 11.2 million, is dedicated to supporting island businesses that are eligible for transport equivalent. This shows the Ministry's commitment to helping island businesses stay afloat during these challenging times.

The Ministry has also secured an additional EUR 15 million to ensure maritime transport services to the island regions. So far, EUR 3.5 million have already been contracted for the minimum shipping service of island areas in 29 lines of the national and local shipping network.

To further support coastal shipping, the Ministry is offering an advance payment equal to 50% of the leases for public service contracts for the months of February, March, and April. This is expected to amount to EUR 7.5 million.

Here's a breakdown of the funding:

The Mercantile Marine and Aegean Policy has undergone significant changes over the years. Georgios Voulgarakis held the position from 2007 to 2008 under the Second Cabinet of Kostas Karamanlis.

In 2008, Anastasios Papaligouras took over, serving until 2009. This was a critical period for the Aegean region, which has always been a hub for trade and commerce.

Here's a list of the key figures in the Mercantile Marine and Aegean Policy from 2007 to 2011:

In 2015, the policy took a new direction with Thodoris Dritsas at the helm, serving until 2016 under the Second Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras.

The Greek Ombudsman has found serious failures in the Hellenic Coast Guard's search and rescue efforts during the Pylos shipwreck in June 2023.

Around 560 people died in the shipwreck, making it the most deadly in the modern history of the Mediterranean.

The Ombudsman's report concluded that the Coast Guard did not fulfill their duty to save and protect lives that day.

The report also highlighted missing crucial evidence in the investigation.

The Hellenic Coast Guard has maintained that they did all they could to save lives that day.

The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy has harshly rebuked the Ombudsman for the report, arguing that it cherry-picked testimonies.

The Ministry points out that the report focuses on the Coast Guard's actions, rather than the criminal networks of traffickers.

The nine Egyptian men who had been on the Ariana were charged with facilitating illegal entry into Greece and criminal responsibility in the shipwreck, but were later acquitted.

Internal Egyptian government documents have proven that Greek authorities knew the nine survivors were likely innocent and chose to ignore the evidence and pursue the case.