Ministry of Shipping: The answer to Stefanos Kasselakis on the interconnection of the Cyclades with the island country – Mykonos News | Mykonos Update | Nea Mykonos

The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy gave a response to the statements of the president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, regarding the allegedly problematic interconnection of the Cycladic islands with the mainland.

In the announcement – response of the Ministry of Shipping to the leader of the official opposition party, it is noted, among other things, that the regional unity of the Cyclades is also connected by coastal shipping to the Dodecanese, Crete, Eastern and Northern Aegean.

It should also be pointed out that the majority of the subsidized ferry lines also provide for the free movement of the permanent residents of the small islands to and from their administrative centers.

The announcement of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy:

On the occasion of yesterday’s statements by the Leader of the Official Opposition, Stefanos Kasselakis, regarding the allegedly problematic interconnection of the Cyclades islands with the mainland, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy points out that:

During the current sailing period, the most populous islands of the Cyclades (Andros, Tinos, Syros, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Thira, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos, Kea, Kythnos) are covered by the process of free routing, with almost daily routes with mainland Greece via the ports of Piraeus – Rafina – Lavrio.

In the context of planning to connect the smaller islands of the Cyclades (Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Anafi, Thirasia, Koufonisi, Heraklia, Schinoussa, Donoussa, Amorgos), both with mainland Greece and with the seat of their region (Syros), about 36 million euros are spent annually for the conclusion of public service award contracts, following the announcement of a relevant pan-European competitive tender. In this way, the interconnection of the small islands with mainland Greece is achieved, at least two to three times a week.

During the summer season, with the operation of high-speed boats, the Cyclades islands are connected almost daily, both with each other and with the ports of Attica and especially with the islands that have an airport (Naxos – Thira – Milos – Syros – Paros – Mykonos).

In addition to the above, it is noted that the regional unity of the Cyclades is also connected by coastal ferry to the Dodecanese, Crete, Eastern and Northern Aegean.

It is also noted that the total budget for the conclusion of Public Service Assignment Contracts increased from 90 million for the 2018-2019 routing period to 154 million for the 2023-2024 routing period.

The Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, in a dynamically changing maritime transport network, always makes every possible effort to solve any related problems that arise, with special care for the inhabitants of the small and critical islands of our Motherland. At the same time, with the main aim of better serving the inhabitants and the productive classes of the islands, it thoroughly examines every business initiative and proposal aimed at increasing the offer and upgrading the services provided, taking into account, however, in each case the available financial credits and always in constant consultation with the relevant bodies of the local government and the shipping industry.

Finally, it should be noted that the majority of the subsidized ferry lines also provide for the free movement of the permanent residents of the small islands to and from their administrative centers. In parallel with a Joint Ministerial Decision, categories of groups of people and vehicles have been defined, such as for example the needy, children up to 5 years of age, people with disabilities or reduced mobility with a disability rate of 80% or more, as well as their companions, large children, students-students A .EI-TEI and students of A.E.N.-K.E.S.E.N., who are entitled to travel with a discount on the tickets of all categories of scheduled ships that perform cabotage and without discrimination in terms of ship owners”.

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