The 50% reduction in port fees will contribute significantly to the efforts to contain boat tickets, ahead of the price rises announced by shipowners as of May 1 due to changes in fuel, Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias reiterated at the Delphi Economic Forum X.

It should be noted that due to European Union environmental regulations, on May 1 the Mediterranean Sea will become a sulphur emission control area (SECA), which means that any fuel used for ships over 5,000 gross tonnage must contain only 0.001% of sulfur, raising the fuel price. High-speed boats have already switched to the new fuel.

Kikilias said that a related amendment to reduce port fees was tabled by him in Parliament on Wednesday, as "the government wants to protect people and Greek society, giving Greeks the opportunity to travel to our islands." As he pointed out, shipping and tourism comprise the greatest part of the Greek economy and contribution to its GDP. He noted that both port authorities in Piraeus and Thessaloniki agreed to help the effort to keep port fees down.

Referring to municipalities, the shipping minister said that they would not stand to lose from lower port fees, but would make up the gap from the government's funding of ports for green development and investments.
Kikilias also issued a call to young people to choose ocean shipping and said that by fall the ministry and the shipping market must agree to a final plan to improve maritime training.

Support by ports union

In a related development, the president of the Hellenic Ports Union Athanasios Liagos said he supported the drop in prices of port fees, private cars and private trucks. 

Containing transportation costs will help raise demand for port services in the long term, while the corresponding funding from the Energy & Environment Ministry foreseen in the amendment for projects that will improve the environmental footprint of ports is a long-standing policy of the Union, he noted.