The government's commitment to keep the cost of ferry travel under control was reiterated by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, speaking on the program “Connections” of ERTNEWS.
As he stressed, the ministry’s first priority remains safety in maritime transport, noting that more than 1,300 regular and extraordinary inspections have already been carried out on ferry ships, tourist vessels, day boats, ferries and ferry boats, according to the relevant press release.
“Safety is the first priority. Beyond that, our goal is for coastal shipping to operate with rules, calm, and respect for the people who work at sea, the islanders, Greek travelers, and the country’s visitors,” he said.
“The ship is a necessity for the Greek family”
Regarding ferry ticket prices, the Minister stressed that the government has fought a “very big battle” so that they do not increase, despite international pressure on energy prices and the unstable geopolitical environment.
“For a family to go for one week to an island, to the grandfather’s or grandmother’s island or wherever they want, is not a luxury for Greeks. It is a necessity. The ship and coastal shipping are a popular means, because they are mass transport. That is why we are fighting a very big battle so that prices do not increase”, he stated.
Mr. Kikilias also pointed out that to date this effort has paid off, while he also referred to the discounts announced on high-speed vessels, from 24% to 42%, for families and groups of three people, with round-trip tickets in economy class.
“The fact that we have reached the end of June, with July ahead of us, and discounts of 24% to 42% are being announced, is a very important moment. It shows that competition works to the benefit of the citizen,” he noted.
Transport Equivalent and unprofitable lines
Mr. Kikilias made special reference to the Transport Equivalent, pointing out that it is a key tool for supporting islanders, as it covers part of the cost of travel to and from the islands.
As he said, contracts for the unprofitable lines are now acquiring a four-year duration, offering greater predictability to local communities and ferry companies.
At the same time, he mentioned that funding increased from 150 million euros to 168 million euros annually, with a four-year horizon.
Investments in ports and Elefsina
Referring to port infrastructure, the minister pointed out that many island ports have been designed based on the data of previous decades and are now being called upon to respond to the effects of the climate crisis.
According to him, in the previous year more than 60 days of intense southerly winds were recorded, a fact that significantly affects port facilities and coastlines.
Mr. Kikilias also referred to the planning for the port of Elefsina, noting that a tender will be announced in cooperation with TAIPED, once the required procedures and inspections are completed.
As he said, the utilization of the port zone can strengthen the development momentum of Western Attica, creating new investments and well-paid jobs.
Greece must help shape decisions on shipping
Regarding the European policy of decarbonizing shipping, the minister stressed that Greece supports the green transition, but on realistic terms that will not excessively burden the economy and citizens.
“Greece is 61% of European shipping and 20% of global shipping. Decisions in Europe or at the IMO cannot be taken without us. We will be co-shapers of the decisions, for the benefit of our fellow citizens and our heavy industry, which is shipping,” he stated.
At the same time, he warned that an unrealistic compliance cost for the sector would be passed on to the real economy, increasing the cost of energy, products, and transport.
“The opponent is society’s problems”
In the political part of the interview, Mr. Kikilias argued that the government’s opponent is not the opposition parties but society’s problems.
“Our opponent is not PASOK, SYRIZA or any other party, but society’s problems. If we continue the reforms and find solutions, society will credit us for that”, he said.
On issues of transparency, he made it clear that “we are not covering for anyone, nor are we going to cover for anyone,” underlining that wherever there are irregularities, Justice must fulfill its role.