By Anastasia Vamvaka
The updating of the Code of Maritime cabotage and passenger rights Legislation was voted by a large majority in the Parliament. ND, SYRIZA and the Movement for Change voted “yes”, KKE and MERA25 “no”, while the Hellenic Solution declared “present”.
The new Code updates in a single text the current legislation on maritime cabotage, and the rights of passengers
Specifically:
The legislation regarding:
a. the bodies and the manner of exercising state supervision in the field of maritime cabotage,
b. the conditions and the procedure for the free provision of services in maritime cabotage from or to ports of islands (regular and extraordinary routing of ships, execution and interruption of voyages, etc.),
c. the conclusion of public service contracts (for the exclusive service of specific lines, for rent, by direct assignment, with public bodies, etc.),
d. the manner of repayment of public service contracts (through the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy),
e. the protection of seafarers and land workers, in the context of the execution of the above contracts (submission of letters of guarantee of good execution or payment of state grants for the execution of barren lines, in case of unpaid salaries, etc.),
f. ensuring the protection of employees in shipping companies as well as the protection of shipping;
g. the conditions and procedure for the execution of maritime cabotage between mainland ports;
h. the transport of goods and postal items,
i. the rights of passengers (financial compensation, discounts or refunds, etc.) as well as the obligations of passengers and carriers,
j. the penalties imposed for non-compliance with the above legal framework.
What changes in the barren line
“From 2023 onwards, we will be able to announce public service assignment lines, with contracts valid for more than 10 years”, said the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island, Costas Katsafados, as part of the elaboration of the bill entitled “Ratification of the Code of Maritime Legislation cabotage and passenger rights “, by the competent committee of the Parliament.
Speaking about the “Nearchos” program (financing of projects in the island area), Mr. Katsafados said that, after the necessary JMC with the Ministry of Finance, which regulates technical issues around the completion of multi-year contracts, “we will proceed to the conclusion of contracts more than ten years, so that we can put more modern ships, newer, with a greater ecological footprint, and faster “. As it became known for the renewal of the fleet, funding of 670 million euros is expected from the NSRF and the “Nearchos” program.
Asked by SYRIZA MP N. Santorini about the state’s debts to the shipping companies, Mr. Katsafados said that from the beginning of the year until today, “we have given 85 million euros to cover financial gaps and invoices that existed. and from the previous year “. He announced, however, that the vast majority of shipping companies have had almost full repayment of their tariffs by March 2022.
According to the Deputy Minister of Shipping K. Katsafado, to the 85 million euros that have already been given since the beginning of the year until today, another 138 million euros will be added for the new route period for the subsidy of the “barren” lines.
Source: Capital
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