|
|
|
|
Merchant Marine mechanics call for better maintenance and inspection of ships The Pan-Hellenic Union of Mechanics of the Merchant Marine is going to submit evidence to the public prosecutor in Piraeus proving the violation of the legislation regarding the safety of ships on behalf of ship companies. Specifically, the mechanics are speaking of incorrect maintenance of ships and a small number of inspections.
Newly-delivered Superfast VIII to join Superfast VII on Germany-Finland route
Superfast VIII will join Superfast VII as of today, Monday, 16th July, 2001, in the direct and fast, daily link of Germany to Finland, between the ports of Rostock, Germany and Hanko, Finland, a service performed in a mere 22 hours, compared to 32-34 hours required by most of the ships in the trade. During the delivery ceremony, Alexander Panagopoulos, President and Managing Director of Superfast Ferries S.A., said: "We are proud to see our Superfast Ferries, that are now eight, to be so demanded in the Adriatic Sea and I am pleased to report that we get the same messages from our new operation in the Baltic Sea. Once again, I wish to thank the people at Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG for the excellent products that they deliver to us and I am looking very much forward to the deliveries of Superfast IX and Superfast X that will join our Baltic ships for the new 18-hour ferry service between Germany and Sweden due to start at the beginning of 2002." Sponsors for the naming of Superfast VIII were the famous Finnish rock music band Leningrad Cowboys, who have been very popular in various countries of Europe and elsewhere for their unique appearance and inspired music themes. To date, the Leningrad Cowboys have toured successfully in over 60 countries worldwide including Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, USA and the United Arab Emirates. As a contribution to the charitable efforts of the Children's University Hospital in Helsinki, and as suggested by the Leningrad Cowboys, Superfast Ferries arranged for 50 children patients to travel on Superfast for a mini cruise to Germany. For next year, the Attica Group expects the delivery of eight more brand new ferries. Two of them, Superfast IX and Superfast X, will be delivered by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG and will join Superfast VII and Superfast VIII in the Baltic trade introducing a new route between Sweden and Germany between Rostock and Sodertalje, near Stockholm. Two more Superfast ferries, Superfast XI and Superfast XII are being built at Flender Werft, Lubeck, Germany and are due for delivery in the first half of 2002. A two-ship service is also due to start next year in May between Rosyth in Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium, connecting Scotland to mainland Europe in a direct and fast daily overnight service. Four more ferries ordered by the Group's subsidiary, Blue Star Ferries, all designed for the domestic market are due for delivery in the course of 2002. They will be employed in the Cycladic and Ionian islands' connection to mainland Greece.
The European Union's executive Commission on Wednesday warned Greece and ten other member states to incorporate EU directives on navigational safety into their national legislation. The warning came in the form of a reasoned opinion, the final stage before recourse to the European Court. It covers a failure for Greece to order mandatory checks on vessels in port and release information at least once a month on the ships that were banned from sailing for safety reasons, and the names of vessels that were checked. In addition, the country has to introduce a system of compulsory checks on ro-ro ferries and fast ferries plying serving regular routes.
The European Union's executive Commission on Wednesday warned Greece and Portugal to implement the deregulation of sea transportation in passenger shipping, except for island routes, for which Athens gained an exemption until January 1, 2004. The warning came in the form of a reasoned opinion, the final stage before recourse to the European Court. The countries have two months to reply.
18 MILLION PASSENGERS WILL BE SERVED BY 200 SHIPS OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND SIZES According to estimates, about 18 million passengers will be served in Greece this summer season by about 200 ships of different types and sizes that cover both main and secondary sea routes. A notable increase in the number of passengers that will be served is expected to be recorded in the routes covered by newly built ships.
Ship owners call for national maritime policy to boost sector The Union of Greek Ship owners (UGS) has called for the establishment of a national shipping policy that would spur the return of ships to the Greek flag and boost infrastructure. In its annual report for 2000 released on Thursday, the UGS said the policy should incorporate proposals it had made in the past on improving the competitiveness of the Greek shipping register and guidelines stated by the European Union in 1997. In addition, the UGS backed the creation of a new climate in the mass media and the public to secure recognition for the shipping sector and its contribution to the economy. Other demands of the UGS are a long-term strategy of attracting young people into the sector; an acceleration of reform in naval education for the merchant marine; and upgrading of the merchant marine ministry and the Harbor Corps. Addressing the UGS' annual general meeting, its president, Yiannis Lyras, said that a balance should be restored between measures promoting safety and protection of the environment, and measures encouraging competitiveness of the whole industry. Lyras added that 80 percent of shipping accidents were due to human error, backing the UGS' argument that naval education should be improved. Finally, net foreign currency inflows from shipping in 2000 totalled 4,182 million euros, sharply up from 2,606 million euros in 1999. The figure for 2000 represented 38 percent of the value of total goods exported, he said. Greek orders for new buildings in 2000 represented 14 percent of the total number of orders for ships around the world, or 21 percent in terms of tonnage. The cash involved was equivalent to two national budgets, Lyras added.
Greece's passenger shipping sector enters a new era Greece's passenger shipping sector has entered a new era following approval of a new bill to deregulate and sector and transform the country's 10 largest harbors into public companies, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis said on Wednesday. Papoutsis urged ship owners, investors and local authorities to seek opportunities offered from the new bill in the country's passenger shipping sector. Commenting on criticism by the Union of Passenger Shipping Owners on the provisions of the new bill, Papoutsis said ship owners should not forget that their activities were not in their private area but in the sea and the country's harbors. "They should also acknowledge their responsibility towards the society and the state," he noted. Papoutsis said the new bill was based on the standards set by the European Union and envisages an absolute balance between the private activity and social interests. He also dismissed as "warning shots" threats made by ship owners over procedures with the European Union against the Greek state and massive outflow from the Greek shipping register.
SHIP RUNS AGROUND NEAR MYKONOS, SIX DROWN A ship transporting undocumented immigrants from Turkey to Greece ran aground and sunk near a rock islet close to the central Aegean island of Mykonos yesterday, drowning six of the passengers and leaving an indeterminable number of others missing. According to the ship's Greek captain Panayiotis Kouvas, there were about 60 Kurdish illegal immigrants on board the ship, while more are believed to have been hiding inside the vessel. Authorities have arrested Kouvas and another crewmember.
Merchant marine minister says cabotage bill the basis for passenger shipping Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis announced on Tuesday an increase in tax-free income amounting to 200,000 drachmas for the inhabitants of small islands to offset the 3 percent duty imposed on passenger shipping tickets. Papoutsis was speaking at the beginning of a Parliamentary debate on the cabotage bill, the creation of a Ports and Port Policy General Secretariat and the conversion of port funds into SA companies. Commenting on the bill, anticipating cabotage deregulation as of November 1, 2002, Papoutsis said it constitutes the basis for passenger shipping in the 21st century.He also referred to certain "strange and suspicious" reports in foreign newspapers, pointing out that in this way an attempt is being made to blackmail travel agents abroad to achieve cheap packages.
Fire broke out in the Greek passenger ship "Arethousa" as it was sailing off the Italian coasts with 531 passengers and 111 crew members on board on its way to the port of Patras in southern Greece. The fire broke out in the ship's engine room control panel and was caused by a short circuit. Shortly afterwards, the fire was put out by crew members. However, the ship's engines were turned off and the ship was left adrift as its crew was trying to fix the failure. The passengers were at no risk, whatsoever, throughout the incident. As it was made known, the ship is now being towed to the port of Bari in Italy escorted by Italian Coast Guard vessels.
Greece has biggest para-economy in EU, IOBE study says The "para-economy", or black economy, in Greece is the most extensive in the European Union, estimated at 36.7 percent of GDP, according to a study released Wednesday by the Institute for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE). The study on tax evasion and the black economy, conducted by a team of university professors headed by public economy professor at the Panteios University, Nikos Tatsos, estimated the para-economy in Greece at 36.7 percent of GDP, according to 1997 figures, and was comparatively the most extensive in the European Union. It calculated revenues moved via the black economy at 14-15 trillion drachmas. The study attributed the rise in the para-economy in Greece chiefly to the country's taxation system which it said was "highly centralized and complex", the distribution of the tax burden, which was "inversely progressive", the inefficiency of the tax administration, and the extent of corruption in public services. It is noted that Greece and Italy have the highest rate of corruption among the EU member states. According to the study, the sectors of state activity with the highest degree of corruption are health, tax offices and city planning offices, while particular mention is made of illegal employment and evasion of contributions (to social security and pension funds), which are directly linked with the black economy and tax evasion. The report estimated that the cash-strapped state social security foundation IKA was deprived of some 700 billion drachmas in contributions, or 30 percent of annual revenues, as a result.
Attica group turnover rises by 26% in first quarter 2001 The Board of Directors of Attica Enterprises announced the consolidated results for the first quarter 2001, which show Sales of Grd 12.1 bln, increased by 26% over the same period of last year, and Net Profit after interest depreciation and taxes of Grd 45 mln versus Grd 416 mln in the first quarter 2000. The financial results of this year's first quarter include depreciation charges of Grd 1.2 bln versus Grd 0.9 bln of last year's first quarter and net financial expenses increased by Grd 1.4 bln over the first quarter of 2000. The addition of four new ships in Attica's fleet, three of them, Blue Star 1, Blue Star 2 and Blue Star Ithaki at the beginning of the summer 2000, and Superfast VI in mid-February 2001, account for the increased amount of depreciation and for higher interest paid. In the same period, in terms of carryings, Attica's Superfast ferries carried 15.3% more passengers and 12.8% more trucks in the total Greece-Italy routes and ranked first in passengers (market share 32.9%) and in trucks (market share 26.1%) among 35 ships, in the total traffic between Greece and Italy. In the first quarter of 2001, Strintzis Lines, in which Attica Enterprises own 48.57% of the total stock, ranked second in market share in the Greece-Italy routes in the Adriatic Sea with a market share of 19.8% in passengers and 20.7% in trucks versus a 3rd place ranking in the same period of 2000. In the domestic market, Strintzis Lines carried 18.9% more passengers and 45.4% more private cars compared to first half 2000.
Greek merchant ships, the strongest worldwide President of the Union of Greek Ship owners, Yiannis Lyras, said recently that the Greek merchant fleet stands for at least 17.4 percent of the world fleet in terms of tonnage, adding that in March, 2000, Greek-owned ships amounted to some 3,548, or 150,966,324 tones. He said that ships carrying the Greek flag headed the league in the face of other EU member nations and represented some 38 percent of the EU's merchant fleet. The Greek-owned merchant fleet today was the largest in the world, with the second largest trailing far behind. But only 25 percent of the Greek-owned fleet bore the Greek flag, bringing the Greek-flag fleet to the 5th position worldwide, and number one in the EU, where it accounted for 50 percent of the European fleet. At the other side of the Atlantic, and specifically in New York, Greek Minister of Merchant Marine Christos Papoutsis told reporters that Greece is the number one maritime force in the world and this role was recognized by the United States which, as a political superpower, played an important role in world organizations where the interests of Greek shipping find a forum for discussion or formulate the legal framework within which Greek shipping functions. The Greek Minister, who was in the US for talks with US officials, said that Greece is a very important interlocutor of the US, which shares the same principles for the development of shipping policy, and particularly safety of navigation, protection of the marine environment, and boosting competition. Noting that Greek coastal shipping vessels were considered among the safest to enter US ports, Papoutsis also said that the safety of the services provided to passengers and tourists in Greece are applied with the strictest specifications. Papoutsis underlined that Greece is included among the countries that impose strict controls on ships bearing its flag and adheres to all the international specifications and rules of safety, and the rules for protection of the marine environment, taking significant initiatives in that direction in the framework of the EU and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Papoutsis, who also met and held talks with NY-based ship owners, said that the Greek government was optimistic that in the forthcoming years Greek shipping will have, at political level, the best possible framework to enable it to develop and reign supreme in the world once again.
Minoan Lines-Results-First Quarter Minoan Lines, an Athens-quoted passenger shipper, on Tuesday reported revenue of 7.1 billion drachmas in the first quarter of the year, flat against the same period of 2000. Revenue held steady despite a reduction in sailings to the Adriatic due to withdrawal of the Phedra ferry from the Venice line, Minoan said in a statement. Earnings before amortisation totalled 900 million drachmas.
Minoan Lines-Flying Dolphins-Forthnet-Sale Minoan Lines, a passenger shipper listed on the Athens bourse, said on Friday that it was considering selling some of its stock in Minoan Flying Dolphins, which operates hydrofoils and catamarans, as well as in Forthnet, an internet provider. Responding to media reports, Minoan Lines said in a statement that the sale of stock in the hydrofoil company would come in the form of an alliance involving a strategic investor in order to growth of the enterprise. If Minoan sold stock in Forthnet, the sale would be made through a share package to a strategic investor, and not as a free float on the Athens Stock Exchange, the statement said. In addition, any decision would be made in consultation with Forthnet's management. Finally, Minoan Lines said it planned to raise its share capital in order to help fund the company's order for newbuildings, the statement added.
Christina O, sets sail to Greek isles this summer offering special yachting experience! Shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onassis's 'Christina' has undergone an over US $50 million restoration job resulting in the most extensive revitalization project to date in the history of private luxury mega-yachts.When the vessel returns to sail as the Christina O, it will now belong to a new category of luxury yachting. When, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis bought the ship in 1954 he spent over US $4 million to convert it into the most modern and opulent yacht the world. Since then and until 1975, Onassis' 'floating home' hosted dignitaries and Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Egypt's King Farouk, Frank Sinatra, John D. Rockefeller, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, J. Paul Getty, John Wayne, opera diva Maria Callas and numerous others. It is also said that the late US President John F. Kennedy first met his counterpart British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill aboard the yacht and two of the century's most celebrated wedding receptions were also held on its decks, that of Prince Rainier to Grace Kelly and Onassis himself to former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Three years after Onassis' death in 1975, his daughter Christina donated the yacht to the Greek government to be used by the President to entertain visiting heads of state. In 1998, Tauck World Discovery arranged for the purchase of the yacht and resold her to John Paul Papanicolaou, an Onassis family friend and shipping industry leader. Papanicolaou and a group of investors working in concert with Tauck began Christina's unprecedented US $50+ million, three-year restoration, involving meticulous research, engineering and craftsmanship. Experts in yacht refurbishment have passionately restored the spacious yacht to provide today's guests with the same experience enjoyed by celebrated guests of decades past. As her legendary past blends into the dawning of a new era, Christina O affords a first-time opportunity to experience the extraordinary lifestyle of the Onassis years replete with the modern touches of the 21st century. At 325 feet in length, the magnificent yacht includes 18 staterooms, all named after Onassis' favorite Greek Islands, and the extraordinary Onassis Suite which is undoubtedly a centerpiece of the yacht. Carefully restored by an apprentice of the original craftsmen, the inlaid mosaic floor of the swimming pool rises at the push of a button to form a dance floor. The Lapis Lounge continues to boast the brilliant lapis lazuli fireplace to which it owes its name. Ari's Bar, where Onassis did much of his entertaining, retains the infamous bar stools covered in whale foreskin, which Onassis used to shock his guests. Original Renoir graces Christina O's walls and the grand spiral staircase with its onyx and silver handrail encircle the atrium. In keeping with her former reputation as the most modern yacht at sea, today's state-of-the-art technology and conveniences have been seamlessly integrated with the signature details of the Christina O. Each stateroom boasts CD and DVD players with surround sound, the finest Venetian linens, and magnificent marble bathrooms. A fresh air system replaces the interior air approximately once every five minutes. The yacht now has a spa complex that includes a Jacuzzi with open-air bar, massage room, fitness center, sports lounge and more. Other amenities of the Christina O include a library, music lounge, show lounge, children's playroom, helicopter pad, beauty parlor and formal dining room. Beginning in the summer of 2001, Christina O returns to reclaim her dominance of the world's yachting scene and will become available for those who want to become a part of her illustrious legacy. Ultra-exclusive private sailing can be reserved through Titan Brokerage Corporation for summer cruises in the Mediterranean and winter cruises in the Caribbean. For approximately US $70,000 per day, clientele can customize their own itineraries and experience private use of the yacht. Alternately, individuals can reserve passage with upscale tour operator Tauck World Discovery; an option never before offered on a mega-yacht, starting at US $17,500 per couple (or US $8,750 per person) based on double occupancy. Tauck will sail the yacht, with a maximum of 36 guests, on ten-night itineraries through the Greek Isles beginning in the fall of 2001, and in the Mediterranean starting in spring 2002. "For the first time ever, individuals will have the unique opportunity to sail on a historic mega-yacht," says Peter Tauck, Co-President of Tauck World Discovery. "We are truly taking something that was previously unimaginable and making it a reality. Bringing this type of innovative, authentic experience to the public is exactly what Tauck has been doing for over 75 years, and the Christina O represents the next great way to enrich our guests' lives and fulfill their dreams." "We're thrilled to reintroduce the fabled Christina O in all her original splendor," adds John Paul Papanicolaou, President of Titan Brokerage Corporation. "Having been a passenger aboard the yacht in my youth, I feel a special pride in bringing her forth to sail into the new millennium. The extent and attention to detail of her restoration would make Onassis proud."
FERRY ISSUES SOS, NINE ON BOARD ABANDON SHIP A car ferry with a nine-member crew on board issued an SOS this morning as it was sailing southeast of the island of Rhodes. The crew has safely abandoned the ship. According to the Merchant Marine Ministry, the "Macedonia I" had developed a dangerous list as it was sailing 102 nautical miles off Rhodes in 8-beaufort velocity winds, forcing the all- Greek crew to abandon the vessel in a life-raft. All nine are reported to be well. A major rescue operation was underway by Coast Guard vessels, assisted by a Super Puma all-weather helicopter, an Air Force helicopter and nearby vessels. The ferry had set sail from northern Greece's Porto Lagos, Xanthi, and was bound for Lemessos.
Strintzis Lines-Hellenic Shipyards Strintzis Lines, a listed passenger shipper, announced on Monday that it had amended its contract with Hellenic (Skaramangas) Shipyards for the construction of two vessels.Under the contract's new terms, the Mykonos and Hios ferries that were due for delivery in the summer will be ready in March and May of 2002, Strintzis said in a statement.
Olympic Airways fares higher Olympic Airways fares for domestic flights will increase up to 12%, as from Saturday April, 21. The increase was mandatory due to higher taxes and duties at the new airport. (an opportunity for ferry business)
New Athens airport - First figures The latest figures on the first three weeks of operation at the new Eleftherios Venizelos airport were released on Friday. Specifically, 9,450 flights were recorded at the facility, east of Athens proper near the Spata township, between the March 28 opening and April 17. (i.e. 450 flights per day whereas the maximum capacity is 550 flight per day... the new airport is TOO SMALL!) Approximately 800,000 passengers passed through the airport while 640,000 pieces of luggage were handled. The first few days of operation at the new state-of-the-art airport, built by a consortium headed by Germanys Hochtief, were plagued by problems, delays and inconveniences for travelers.
Minoan Lines to take delivery of new ultramodern ferry Greek coastal shipper Minoan Lines is to take delivery Saturday of a new, ultramodern car-passenger ferry, to be named "Phaestos Palace", currently being completed at a shipyard in Genoa, Italy, it was announced Wednesday. The Phaestos Palace is the third of eight new buildings ordered by the company. The first ferry and sister vessel of the Phaestos Palace, the "Knossos Palace", was launched in November 2000 on the Piraeus-Iraklion (Crete) route, while the second vessel, the "Prometheus", was recently launched on the company's Adriatic Sea routes in replacement of the "Phaedra", which was rerouted to the Aegean itineraries. The sister ships Knossos Palace and Phaestos Palace are among the most luxurious passenger shipping vessels in the world.
Ship under Cyprus flag caught fire, three seamen dead Three seamen, among them Greek mechanic Dimitris Haviaras, aged 52, died when the ship Surfmarine-Galana under Cyprus flag caught fire off the Durban port in South Africa. The other members of the crew are safe.
Vernicos Yachts buys out 51 percent of Liberian Free Holdings Company Vernicos Yachts maritime company, listed in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) on Thursday announced the purchase of 51 percent interest in the Liberian Free Holdings shipping company. Vernicos used past company profits for the acquisition.
Attica enterprises welcomes Superfast V
The now, Greek-flagged ship, is expected to be set to sail in time for Hellenic Orthodox Easter, April 15, 2001. Specifically, the cruise ferry will begin conducting the route Patra-Ancona-Patra on Thursday April 12, 2001 and the Patra-Igoumenitsa-Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patra route alongside Superfast III, Superfast IV and its sister ship Superfast VI. The four ships will daily conduct two routes from Patra to Ancona and vice versa and only one route from Igoumenitsa towards Italy. The new ship has a 1,600-passenger capacity as well as can hold 200 vehicles, and 140 transport trucks. It also offers passengers a wide array of restaurants, bars, conference centers, shops, dance halls and a children's play area is available as is an impressive pool.
Royal Olympic Cruises says reservations up 35 percent in 2001 Royal Olympic Cruises on Friday said reservations were up 35 percent this year, compared with 2000, and noted it was ready to face this increased tourism trend in Greece. ROC is the biggest cruise company in eastern Mediterranean with a total vessel capacity of 6,900 beds. The official start of the season was marked with the first cruise by Stella Solaris, which departed from Piraeus Port on Friday. A company representative said reservations were up 53 percent in Stella Solaris and 28 percent in Odysseus. ROC said its newest cruise ship, Olympic Explorer, would arrive at the Piraeus port on May 12
Attica Enterprises to launch new vessel in Adriatic Sea Attica Enterprises, a listed Greek passenger shipping company, on Friday said it would launch its newest vessel, Superfast V, to the Greece-Italy line in the Adriatic Sea. Attica Enterprises said the new vessel would operate in the Patras - Ancona and Patras -Igoumenitsa - Ancona sea lines along with Superfast III and Superfast IV and its brother vessel Superfast VI which was delivered in February 6. The new vessels will have a capacity of 1,600 passengers, 200 vehicles and 140 heavy trucks, offering all luxury services of a cruise ship. Attica Enterprises expects delivery of four more vessels from German shipyards HDW in May 2001 and early 2002. The company is currently building two new Superfast ferries at the Lubeck, Flender Werft AG shipyard, to be put in operation at the Scotland-continental Europe sea line. Attica Enterprises also said it would soon begin operating on the Piraeus-Hania and Piraeus - Kos - Rhodes sea lines.
Greece wants to host EU shipping group, see black boxes on ships Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Thursday proposed that the European Navigational Safety Service should be based in the port of Piraeus. The minister formally made the proposal at a meeting of European Union maritime transpiration ministers held in Luxembourg.He also told the ministers that Greece backed installing data recorders aboard vessels, equivalent to the 'black box' used in aircraft to monitor operations.
Greek shipping register shows net rise in vessels, tonnage The Greek shipping register in March gained 10 vessels, losing eight, the merchant marine ministry said on Tuesday. The register gained 345,567 gross registered tones and lost 162,053 gross registered tones, the ministry said in a statement. A net gain of 183,514 gross registered tones was posted, the statement added.
New passenger shipping deregulation bill Merchant Marine Minister of Greece Christos Papoutsis told reporters recently that the government has prepared the final draft if a new bill for the deregulation of passenger shipping industry. The bill is now going to be sent to parliament was completed after responses earlier in March from parties involved in the market. Aside from the deregulation, the bill will also oblige passenger shipping companies to lower the age ceiling for ships to 30 from 35 years, staggered until 2008, instead of 2006. In the meantime, Papoutsis is scheduled to leave for an official visit to the United States on May 6-9 where he will hold talks with the commander of the US Coastguard, the chief of the Drug Enforcement Agency and other government officials on matters concerning shipping safety and emergency situations.
STATE-OF-THE-ART AIRPORT INAUGURATED TODAY The new state-of the-art airport in Athens, "Eleftherios Venizelos, is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Costas Simitis today, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and other officials. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also be attended by the leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis. The first airplane will take off from the new Athens International Airport at dawn on March 29, while the last flight from the soon-to-be abandoned Hellenikon airport will take off at 8 p.m. on March 28. The first airplanes to touch down on the new airport will do so at around 3 p.m. on March 29. The new airport, located at Spata, southeast of Athens, aims at establishing a regional hub for air routes from Europe, Asia and Africa, while its initial capacity is 16 million passengers annually, with a potential for expansion to 50 million passengers a year. Two runways allow for simultaneous take-off and landing of up to 600 aircraft per day. State-of-the-art facilities will provide for both an expanding tourism industry and the demands of the Athens-held Olympic Games of 2004. Higher airport taxes and fees charged to airlines are to result in increased ticket prices and, subsequently, boost revenues, bringing Athens into line with other large European airports. The GDR658 billion construction project has involved investment by both Greek and foreign companies and an innovative co-operation between private companies and the Greek public sector. More than 100 Greek constructors were involved in the work. The operating company, Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA), owned 55% by the Greek state and 45% by the German Hochtief group, was responsible for the airport's construction and remains responsible for its operation for the next 30 years. More than 7,000 permanent jobs will be created at the airport and in associated services. A large portion of AIA's operating costs will be covered by income from concession agreements for the provision of passenger services and facilities. The airport terminal will feature 10 food and beverage outlets spanning an area of 2,000 square meters.
THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE POPULATION CENSUS The Greek National Statistics Agency gave to publicity today the initial results of the population census that was conducted in Greece on March 18. According to the preliminary results of the population census, the country's population is 10.939.771. The male population numbers 5.426.660 and the female 5.513.111. The population rate of increase is 6.6% compared to 1991 and it is attributed mainly to foreign immigrants.
Greek ship owners based in Piraeus and London said on Tuesday that Greek-managed ships still led the world fleet. But the number of Greek-flagged vessels remained low due to a lack of measures to improve the Greek registry's competitiveness, the Union of Greek Ship owners and London-based Greek Shipping Committee said after a meeting in the UK capital. Both groups also underlined the importance of officer training, which would determine the sector's future along with competitiveness. A severe shortage of young recruits had also been noted, the two groups said in a joint statement.
Nine firms express interest in buying Skaramangas shipyard Nine companies have expressed non-binding interest in buying Skaramangas Shipyards, whose deadline for sale in a privatization tender is June, the development ministry said on Monday. The government's adviser to the sale will recommend a shortlist of bidders in two weeks, the ministry said in a statement. Skaramangas shareholders, Hellenic Industrial Development Bank with a 51 percent stake, must accept the recommendation and the yard's worker cooperative with 49 percent, the statement said. The short-listed firms or groups will then be asked to submit binding bids, it added. The ministry said the firms that expressed interest in buying Skaramangas shipyard were as follows: * Elefsina Shipyards SA of Greece * Louis Cruise Lines Ltd of Cyprus * Pacific and Atlantic Corporation (Greece's Pateras shipping group) * Vosper Thornycroft UK Ltd of the United Kingdom * Royal Schelde BV-Damen Shipyards of the Netherlands * Constructions Mechaniques de Normancie (CMN) SAS of France * Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) AG-Ferrostaal AG of Germany * General Electric Company Inc. of the US * Mentor Technologies of the US.
Ship owners disagree with lower age limit for vessels The Union of Passenger Ship owners (EEA) said on Tuesday that it was opposed to a government proposal on a phased lowering of the maximum age of ships to 30 years of age from 35 years. The ship owners were commenting on a measure contained in a bill on deregulation and modernization of the passenger shipping market. The government had sought feedback in writing by March 12 from industry groups. Reduction of the age limit would leave remote Greek islands without transport, as older vessels were used on these non-lucrative routes, the EEA said in a statement. The move would also severely diminish the size of the Greek merchant fleet as out of a total of 124 ships, 77 would have to be withdrawn by 2006 under the new measure against 22 if the 35-year age limit were retained. The ship owners union recommended using a new, 30-year limit for vessels entering the market, keeping 35 years for vessels already in operation, the statement said.
Passenger ship owners, seamen in deadlock over pay The Union of Passenger Ship owners and the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) on Wednesday began a first round talks to forge a collective labor agreement for 2001, but reached no agreement. Ship owners' representatives said that union pay demands were excessive, and salaries should fall within the framework of inflation. A new round of talks is set for March 14. The PNO is seeking pay rises of 7.0 percent in 2001 for passenger shipping workers and 8.0 percent for seamen in cargo shipping. The PNO has set the end of March as the deadline for the conclusion of an agreement, and indicated that its members may strike if the deadline is broken. The PNO has strongly criticized a call for a two-year labor pact sought by another employers' group, the Union of Owners of Passenger Ships. "The PNO will not take part in such a process. The ship owners' unions should agree among themselves on concluding unified agreements," the PNO's general secretary, Yiannis Halas, said.
Tanker-Explosion-One Fatality An oxygen bottle exploded on the tanker "Marianna", belonging to the Vardinoyiannis group, on Sunday, killing a technician and slightly injuring another three workers, while the vessel was located at the Motor Oil company's anchorage at Aghioi Theodoroi. The dead man was identified as Spyros Petrakakos, 54. The injured workers - Antonis Meraklis, 43, Nikos Panagou, 35 and Christos Demirakos, 31 - were taken to the Corinth hospital for treatment. According to the Merchant Marine Ministry, the exposion was caused by an oxygen bottle the workers were using for work on the "Marianna", which had been provided with a certificate confirming that it had no dangerous fumes in its hold.
Onassis yacht available for charters Aristotelis Onassis' famed yacht, the m/yChristina, has been completely renovated (in Croatia??) and is now available for charters for selective cruising and special ports of call events. Its facilities were once available for the rich and famous, such as Winston Churchill, the Aga Khan, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, King Farouk, the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, as well as Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The fabulous yacht stretches 325 feet from bow to stern. Included aboard are four magnificent salons, a sumptuous dining room with seating for up to 44 people, three cocktail bars, a fitness center, a massage room and beauty salon. And, the famous swimming pool which converts into a dance floor. The yacht can accommodate up to 250 guests for a party aboard in port, and up to 36 guests in 29 staterooms, for cruises. (dear John Paul Papanicolaou...)
EU member states flags ships to freely sail Greek seas Ships sailing under European Union member states flags are as of Friday, March 30, 2001 going to be free to sail in the Greek seas as from November 2002. The General Ports Secretariat - whose aim is the planning and drawing of the National Port policy is apparently going to thus be under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Merchant Marine Ministry.
Gov't releases draft of passenger shipping deregulation bill The government on Thursday released a draft bill on deregulating the passenger-shipping sector that it has sent to market players and political parties for feedback by March 12. "We are in the final stretch before deregulation on November 1, 2002. The new institutional framework is of national significance, which is why we want a substantive dialogue with all those involved," Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis told reporters. The measures to abolish the cabotage system of restrictions that kept operators from abroad out of the Greek domestic passenger shipping market will bring the country into line with European Union directives.
Greece to acquire 3 new submarines The regular six-month military exercise for parachuters took place in Tersephanou yesterday. 76 parachuters from Greece and Cyprus took part in the exercise. In the meantime, National Defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos was present in Kiel at the ceremony for the construction of the first of three U-214 submarines Greece will purchase. The other two submarines will be constructed at Skaramangas shipyards on the basis of a relevant agreement signed in February 2000.
BERLIN Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Tuesday participated in the submarine building initiation ceremony in Kiel, as construction of one of the three U-214 type submarines, to be built for the Hellenic Navy, began. "The modernisation of the Hellenic Navy aims at securing peace," Tsohatzopoulos said, according to the DPA, Germany's news agency. He also supported the promotion of a European defence industry, without which the realisation of the European Policy of Security and Defence is not possible. Three U-214 type submarines to be built at the northern German Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW)/ Ferrostahl shipyard will be equipped with electrical generators, a new type of solid fuel and digital navigational system by industrial giant Siemens. The German multinationals Erlangen-based Industrial Solutions and Services a 75-million navigational system identified as the state-of-the-art ?Nautos? - offered for the new Hellenic Navy subs is considered at present the most modern technology available on an international scale for non-nuclear submarines. The Siemens unit identified the generators as the ?Permasyn? model, which, it claims, are almost noiseless, and the hi-tech solid fuel as the Polymer Elektrolyt Membran (PEM). Greece has ordered three submarines from the Howaldtswerke-Duetsche Werft AG of Kiel. The other two submarines will be built at Greeces Skaramangas shipyard, west of Athens. Deliveries of the three subs are expected to begin in 2005 and end in 2008. The subs will be able to submerge to 350 meters bellow the surface and will be manned with a crew of 35.
Ship's captain testifies to Nautical Accidents Council The captain of the fateful "Express Samina" ferry, in which 80 people lost their lives when it sank on the night of September 26 just off the coast of Paros, testified before the Supreme Council for Nautical Accidents on Tuesday regarding his role in the disaster. In his testimony, Capt. Vassilis Yiannakis claimed that his first officer, Anastasios Psychogios, had delayed waking him up by 13 minutes, while he said it was the job of the ship's first mate to be responsible for the use of life-saving equipment. Asked whether passengers had been shown how to use the life-saving equipment on board, Yiannakis said he had repeatedly asked ship owners Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) for a demonstration video that he could show the passengers but had never received one. The "Express Samina" had sunk after it collided with a well-charted rocky outcrop near Paros called "Portes" and breached its hull. Survivors later accused the crew of not providing adequate assistance to passengers and charged that life-saving equipment was in sub-standard condition. Psychogios had testified before the same Council a month earlier, while ship's engineer Anastasios Sorokas is due to testify on March 8. Sorokas had reported that the ship was unfit to sail about one week before the shipwreck, when he had already left the employ of MFD. Two subsequent inspections, including one by Coast Guard officers, had given the ship the all-clear. The Nautical Accidents Council also plans to call up two seamen that were on the bridge on the fateful night of the accident. During Tuesday's inquiry, Council members focused on training exercises that passenger ferry crews should carry out at regular intervals, following reports that these are carried out in a slipshod manner.
AN ANCIENT GREEK SHIPWRECK WAS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA An ancient Greek shipwreck was discovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of 4 kilometers. The discovery of the 2.300yearold Greek merchant ship was made by the US company Nauticos, 300 miles off the Corsican coasts last May, during a search for the location of an Israeli submarine that sunk in 1968. The discovery of the ancient shipwreck was kept secret until the Israeli submarine was located. The finding is especially important as it will offer valuable information on the commercial sea routes followed in antiquity and the climate changes that occurred in the last two millenniums. A US state of Texas Sea Archaeology Institute oceanographer stated that the ship had set sail either from the island of Rhodes or Kos in southeastern Aegean and further details on the discovery will be presented in Archaeology magazine.
European Court issues criteria of open competition in passenger shipping The European Court on Thursday issued a decision determining the criteria by which open competition would operate regarding services in domestic European Union passenger ship-ping markets, in accordance with the 1992 Union regulations. Greece announced last year it will open domestic shipping markets to competition in 2002, but along with other Union member-states it requested that special conditions should apply in cases where the public interest demands it. The court decided that it is acceptable, in accordance with the 1992 regulation, to provide special permission to national passenger shipping companies to serve non-commercially viable routes, which would not be served by open competition. The court, however, clarified that the national regulations of each member-state should be based on objective criteria, announced to the interested parties before they are implemented. The court also clarified that every member-state may examine the reliability of any Union shipping company, servicing routes in that member-state's market and control issues of tax payments and contributions to marine affair's insurance.
Passenger shipping expert committee Greece's passenger shipping expert committee on Friday announced it had recommended to Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis not to recall shipping licenses in seven ferries "Jet Ferry I", "Kaviros", Santa III", "Kavala", "Thassos V", "N. Kythira" and "Elvira" despite the fact that they remained idle more than two months for their annual maintenance. The committee also approved ANEK Lines' demand to modify the license of "Eleftherios Venizelos" ferry, operating in the Piraeus-Heraclion sea line, to cut the number of its passengers to 1,569 from 2,240. It also recommended that "Apollon Hellas" and Poseidon Hellas" ferries, owned by MFD, could approach the harbors in the islands of Hydra and Spetses. The committee approved a demand by DANE Lines to recall the ferry "Ialysos" from operation and to withdraw the ferry "Phaedra", owned by MFD, from the sea line Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Italy. It also approved the operation of the ferry "Daedalos", owned by Minoan Lines, in the sea line Heraclion-Cyclades-Thessaloniki.
Attica Enterprises welcomes Superfast V & VI Attica Enterprises in early February welcomed yet another luxurious cruise liner to its fleet, the Superfast VI. The ship that was delivered from Germany's HDW shipyards and of which passed inspection is going to embark on February 27th, 2001, along with Superfast V. Both ships were due for delivery in June and July 2000 but were delayed. The Superfast VI is going to set sail on the Patra-Ancona-Patra route in mid February along the sides of Superfast III and Superfat IV. On the other hand, the Superfast V, before arriving in Greece and which will at first visit the ports of Hamburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, and a major port in Scotland, is going to be set to navigate at the end of March. The trip is a marketing drive by Attica Enterprises, which is expected to begin conducting regular routes to these regions in a period of just less than 18 months.
APOLLON returns Feb 14, 2001: Royal Olympic Cruises are reported to be taking APOLLON (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, STAR OF TEXAS) out of lay up for the 2001 season. This ship appears in the London-issued ROC brochure for summer's sailings. With a blue hull, she will embark on 3- and 4-night itineraries from Piraeus.
Ship fares go up Ship fares will increase by 5% as of March 1st, and by a further 2% as of June 1st.
Greece-Syria-Transport Greece and Syria are to sign an agreement on deregulating bilateral road transportation permits when Transport Minister Christos Verelis pays an official visit to Damascus on March 21-24. Inviting Verelis is his Syrian counterpart, Makram Obeid, who came to Athens in December. The transport permits pact was initialled in Damascus last week by Greek and Syrian officials, who also discussed the possibility of commissioning a viability study on making ports in the two countries compatible through the creation of facilities for Ra-Ra and Ro-Ro ferries, container traffic and rail links. The officials will discuss the project at a fresh meeting in Athens in October or November.
Skaramanga Shipyards in cooperation deal with GMC Group Skaramanga Shipyards on Monday announced a cooperation deal with GMC Group of Companies on the production of materials to be used for the construction of Hellenic Navy vessels. The deal also envisages cooperation on the production of spares made from aluminium, copper and stainless steel to boost the organizations productivity. GMC has also signed a cooperation deal with Hellenic Steel. The company reported orders totalling 4.0 billion drachmas in the last two months, accounting for 70 percent of last year's orders.
Piraeus Harbor Organization unveils ambitious three-year investment program Piraeus Harbor Organization on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious three-year investment program envisaging the building of luxury hotels, conference center, car station and works across the harbors piers.
Passenger shipping owners seek meeting with Papoutsis Greece's passenger shipping owners are seeking a meeting with Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis to discuss the abolition of cabotage and an increase in shipping fares. The Passenger Shipping Owners' Union sent a memorandum to the country's Maritime Chamber on January 24, unveiling its members positions to proposals by Merchant Marine Minister on the abolition of cabotage by two years earlier than planned and lowering the age-limit of vessels from 35 to 30 years. Papoutsis has declined to discuss the issue of lowering the age-limit of vessels, saying that the matter was closed following a decision by the government cabinet. Passenger shipping owners also seek a 10 percent increase in shipping fares this year, double the rate approved by national economy ministry. Papoutsis has pledged to support a higher increase.
Alpha Finance appointed to handle shipyard sale Alpha Finance has been appointed to handle the sale of Skaramangas Shipyards. Signing the contract with Alpha on Monday were Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, for the state, and the owner, Hellenic Shipyards SA. Among Alpha Finance's duties are to devise an international tender for the sale within four months.
Passenger vessel owners complain to shipping chamber The Union of Passenger Ship owners on Monday gave the Shipping Chamber of Greece a memorandum, listing complaints including the use of double crews on fast ferries and insufficient port authority reception facilities for people and vessels. "The problem (of facilities) is continually becoming more acute with introduction of the new, longer and faster vessels with which we are enriching our passenger fleets. It is necessary for the state to immediately begin planning the execution of the required infrastructure projects in island ports," the memo said. The government's decision for fast ferries to use double crews was dictated by pressure from seamen's unions, and had no basis in national or European Union law, it added.
MFD FERRY RAMS INTO ROCK, ALL PASSENGERS SAFE A ferry boat butted into a rock at the port entrance of Folegandros island today but, even though it underwent minor damage, all ten passengers on board are fine. The "Express Hermes", which belongs to Minoan Flying Dolphins (MDF), is presently anchored in Folegandros and will undergo inspection from the port authority.
THE TURNOVER IN GREECE FROM ALL FORMS OF LEGAL GAMBLING WAS 1.28 TRILLION DRACHMAS IN 2000 The turnover from all forms of legal gambling in Greece was 1.28 trillion drachmas in 2000, which corresponds to 512.000 drachmas a year or 42.667 drachmas on a monthly basis for every four-member Greek family. It is indicative that the increase in the turnover from all forms of gambling in Greece was 38.3% in 2000 placing the country in one of the top places worldwide. The biggest share in the gambling market belongs to the casinos which had a turnover of 523, 3 billion drachmas in the last year.
CITY OF HYDRA sinks at moorings Jan 29, 2001: It was reported today that the Greek day-cruiser City of Hydra sank at her lay-up moorings in Greece last November (2000). Formerly CalMac's Claymore of 1955. She was laid up when Cycladic Cruises went bust in the early 1990's. Her condition was described as poor.
FERRY BOAT RAMS TWO FISHING BOATS, NO ONE HURT A car/passenger ferry rammed and sank two fishing boats anchored at the port of Kalymnos, this morning, as it was trying to set sail for the island of Kos. All 132 passengers of the "Rhodos" ferry are safe and no damage was caused to the vehicles on board. There were no crew aboard the fishing boats at the time of the accident. After undergoing inspection, the ferry set sail for its itinerary.
ANEK Lines-strategic investment ANEK Lines announced a strategic investment in Southern Shipping Company (ANEN) with the participation in a share capital increase plan worth 900 million drachmas in the latter's equity capital. ANEN issued 900,000 new common nominal shares, worth 1,000 drachmas each, in a share capital increase plan to be completed in February 6. The new capital will be used to adjust its vessel "Myrtidiotissa" to international standards SOLAS, to repay its debt and to acquire a second smaller vessel. The new ship will be used in the sea-line between Peloponese and Crete. ANEN has 3,500 shareholders. Its ship "Myrtidiotissa" has carried 82,000 passenger, 2,100 trucks and 20,000 cars since its launch in April 2000.
GREEK NAVY ACQUIRES RUSSIAN-MADE HOVERCRAFT The Greek Navy is to officially acquire its first-ever hovercraft, a Russian-made vessel, tomorrow, during a ceremony at the Salamina naval station. The vessel, which was thoroughly modernized prior to its transfer and will be re-christened the "Cephallonia", was built in 1993 in St. Petersburg. The large hovercraft can rapidly transport 500 troops or 150 tones of material, as well as serve as a minelayer. It is fitted with two 30mm canons and two 140.3mm multiple rocket launchers. The Greek Navy is also scheduled to acquire and deploy another four new hovercraft, two from Russia and two from the Ukraine, by August this year.
Court freezes dead executive's assets after shipwreck A court on Thursday temporarily froze the sale of personal assets belonging to the late Pantelis Sfinias, the chief of Minoan Flying Dolphins, whose passenger ferry, the Express Samina, sank in September, killing more than 80 people. Under a restraining order, the president of the Athens court of first instance ordered the interim freeze of up to an equivalent of 4.3 billion drachmas in assets that Sfinias had left to his wife and two children. Sought by EFG Eurobank and Alpha Bank, both quoted on the Athens bourse, the main request for the restraining order is due to be heard in court on February 21. Sfinias, 55, had received loans totalling 4.0 billion drachmas from the two banks in 1999, using his personal assets as a guarantee. The deadline for payment of the one-year loans was December 29, 2000. After the shipwreck, the share of the Athens quoted parent company, Minoan Lines, dropped sharply. Minoan Lines is the country's largest passenger shipper. In turn, Minoan Flying Dolphins called off its plans for bourse entry at the end of last year, and Sfinias leapt to his death from the window of his Piraeus office, in an apparent suicide. The assets include real estate and shares in shipping companies.
Greek ship owners own 17.4 percent of world fleet Greek ship owners currently own 17.4 percent of the world's fleet, according to data from the Maritime Chamber of Greece, while in the European Union Greece holds first place with about 40 percent of the European merchant fleet. The Greek merchant fleet, comprising both Greek-flagged and Greek-owned ships, holds first place in the world with ships having a total capacity of about 153 million tones. Greek shipping (Greek-owned ships regardless of flag) amounted to 3,584 ships in 2000, of which 909 are Greek-flagged and represent about 25-28 percent of tonnage. Ships having a total capacity of 43 million tones are currently registered under the Greek flag and hold fourth place in the world. Panama has the biggest fleet and is followed by Liberia, Malta and Greece. Shipping is developing constantly and 835 shipping offices are operating in Greece at present and provide employment for over 12,000 people. However, infrastructure linked to shipping (agencies, companies providing provisions, shipping experts, shipping brokerage companies and lawyers offices) increases this figure to 80,000 people.
MSC order clarification Jan 15, 2001: MSC has confirmed its order with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, but the details vary from what was initially reported. Evidently the order is for a single ship, with negotiations taking place for a second one of the same or similar size. The vessel ordered will carry 1,600 passengers (not 1,500) and measure 60,000 grt. She is described as being similar to European Vision.
Stricken Cyprus ship stranded with 29,500 tonnes of gasoline on board A DAMAGED Cypriot-flagged ship carrying 29,500 tonnes of unleaded gasoline is floating in the western Mediterranean, refused a port of refuge and unable to make it back to Cyprus. The stricken Cypriot- flagged tanker _Castor_ was refused entry to Spanish waters on Wednesday, _Lloyds List_ reported. The 1997-built _Castor_ has been seeking shelter since New Year's Eve after the crew reported a deck crack. Fears are high the gasoline it is carrying might ignite. Although a salvage company is currently finalising preparations for a gas operation to remove any risk of explosion, Spain said no refuge would be given to the ship within its waters. "To allow the ship to come close to our coasts would put civilians at risk," Spain's shipping authority said. Suggestions that the ship be towed back to Cyprus were ruled out by the Merchant Shipping Department (MSD) yesterday. "The ship can't travel that far," a spokesman told the _Cyprus Mail_. "It's an injured giant in the sea." The plight of the _Castor_ has opened a debate in shipping circles on ports of refuge. Spain said its main obligation was to save lives and prevent pollution within its waters. Bringing the ship into Spanish waters was too much to ask, it said. "If the ship has to be lost it has to be lost." Algeria and Gibralter have also refused shelter to the ship. _Lloyds_ said that if no coastal state in the region allowed the ship into its territorial waters, the cargo salvage operation might have to be carried out in open seas. Both the _Castor's_ owners and managers are members of CYMEPA, the island's marine environmental protection association. The MSD spokesman said Cyprus was happy with the European Commission and International Maritime Organisation's view that countries should provide a safe haven for such ships, and he slammed Spanish claims that the _Castor_ was sub-standard. "The record of the ship is excellent and there is no need for the Spanish to target the company or the vessel," he said. The spokesman also said that inspectors would soon be leaving the island to investigate how a fire broke out in the Cypriot-flagged _Arethusa_ off the Danish coast on Wednesday. Seventeen crew members were evacuated but no casualties were reported. The fire appeared to have started in the engine room of the Cypriot-owned vessel before spreading to staff quarters.
Merchant marine minister to meet Passenger Shipping Shipowner Union's new administration The new administration of the Passenger Shipping Shipowner Union will meet Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Friday to discuss issues including the institutional framework, the shipping register, the annual immobility of ships and the infrastructure of ports. The board members will again raise the issue of the shipping register which has been pending for over a year. Ship owners involved in passenger shipping have decided, following the return of the ANEK group to the Union, to handle problems facing their sector together. On the question of the institutional framework, Papoutsis reiterated that discussions with parties are expected to get underway next week, while a discussion on the main principles of the relevant bill might take place at the Production and Trade Committee.
Environment minister meets PM, reiterates that new airport will be ready on time The new international airport at Spata will go into full operation on schedule, in March 2001, Environment Minister Costas Laliotis reiterated on Tuesday, after a two-hour meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. "I have said many times that the new airport will operate normally as a completed and safe project in accordance with the schedule in March 2001," Laliotis said. The meeting with the Prime Minister apparently centered chiefly on the new airport and the furor over the depleted uranium missiles used in Kosovo and their consequences for the Balkans, as well as the environment and public works ministry's scheduled projects. Laliotis said that he and the premier had discussed the environment ministry's program and policies, which he said were crucial for development and quality of life. He noted that 35 per cent of the state's investment program is conducted through the environment ministry.
SFINIAS HAD CONSUMED A LARGE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL BEFORE COMMITTING SUICIDE Minoan Flying Dolphins coastal shipping company vice-president and managing director Pantelis Sfinias, who committed suicide jumping from the sixth floor of the company building in Piraeus on November 29 last year, had consumed a large quantity of alcohol before putting an end to his life, based on the results of the toxicological tests made on his body. Also, the tests showed that he was on the prescription antidepressant drug Remeron and according to the forensic surgeons, who examined the body, he was probably on a treatment to deal with feelings of depression.
GREEK SHIPPING REGISTER REPORTS NET GAINS The Greek Shipping Register made net gains of 55 vessels and 1,776,039 register tons in 2000. Additions to the register were 143, representing a total capacity of 4,173,034 register tons, while withdrawals numbered 88, amounting to a total capacity of 2,406, 055 register tons. In December, nine ships were added and an equal number withdrew for the shipping registers of the USA, Cyprus, Germany, Sweden and Liberia.
Greece to sell Hellenic Shipyards Greece is launching an international tender to sell Hellenic Shipyards, Skaramanga, the largest shipyard in Greece.The yard is currently owned 51% by a state agency, EVTA-the Hellenic Bank for Industrial development--and 49% by a cooperative owned by its workers. The buyer will have to use two-thirds of the purchase price to increase the companys' capital with other third going to EVTA, and 1.5 billion drachmas going to the employee cooperative. The new owner will also have to meet all the yard's contract obligations and guarantee the 1,400 jobs at the yard. In the repair sector, the yard facilities include a 500,000 dwt capacity dry dock. Newbuilding orders include two German designed type 214 submarines and four gunboats for the Greek Navy, and two fast ferries for a Greek owner. (Exim India)
POSITIVE REPORT ON THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING BY THE US STATE DEPARTMENT The US State Department in an information bulletin issued for the US consulates mentions that the safety conditions in the Greek coastal shipping have improved. In the bulletin it is mentioned that the regulations followed by the cruise ships are tougher than those in effect internationally, while it is also mentioned that the ferry-boats have started to implement stricter safety rules for the passengers.
NEL buys 70% of Med Link Lines Greek firm Lesvos Maritime Company (NEL) has finalised its acquisition of a 70% stake in Med Link Lines, at a cost of 4.5 billion drachmas. Med Link Lines' headquarters will be transferred to Mytilini (Lesvos) while the board of directors will comprise seven members representing both companies. Med Link Lines recorded 5.5 billion drachmas in turnover for January-November 2000 while profits reached 606 million drachmas. The firm operates the 'Maria G' (built 1976), the 'Afrodite 2' (1968) and the 'Agios Andreas' (1970), which have all been renovated and service the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi and Bridisi-Tsesme routes.
Turkey, Croatia to compete in marine tourism 2000 was a satisfactory year for the Mediterranean's marine tourism sector, according to Greek firm Vernicos Yachts chairman George Vernicos. Referring to competing destinations, he said he expected Turkey and Croatia would engage in stiff competition in 2001, as they are at the top of the field in terms of infrastructure in the region. In relation to Greece, he said that the country was moving slowly in its efforts to upgrade marine infrastructure, marinas and services for recreational yacht owners.
Greek Navy to receive the first two Zubr-type hovercraft in January The Greek Navy will receive the first two Zubr-type hovercrafts in January, 2001. The hovercraft is in a position to carry three tanks or 360 soldiers and have a speed of 50 knots. Greece has ordered four hovercrafts from Russia and Ukraine. The first one from Russia will arrive in mid-January and the second from Ukraine at the end of the month. The other two will arrive in the summer.
New passenger shipping company to activate itself soon in the Saronic area A new passenger shipping company, the "Argosaronicos Shipping Company SA", intends to activate itself in the Saronic area soon, after the Shipping Communications Advisory Committee recently approved the granting of two operating licenses. A general assembly of shareholders decided an increase in share capital and the purchase of two ships capable of reaching speeds of up to 28-30 knots and of carrying 450 passengers. Capital requested to complete the purchase of the two ships amounts to 3.5 billion drachmas. It was decided that two billion drachmas will be found from subsidies and loaning, while the remaining 1.5 billion through the participation of shareholders. The company's first general assembly was attended by 80 percent of the shareholders.
MAYOR OF ATHENS DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos announced his intention to form a new political party. In a televised address from the Athens City Hall he stated that the founding charter and the name of his party will be announced in the next few months. Mr. Avramopoulos, who comes from the ranks of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, stated that the big political parties do not have anything more to offer and it is time for a change in the Greek political scene.
Vernicos Yachts profits up
No evidence of foul play as probe into Sfinias' death ends Executive had apparently quit post as MFD representative after shipwreck A WEEK-LONG investigation into the suicide of the deputy chairman of Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) - owners of the ill-fated passenger ferry Express Samina - is expected to come to a close today with the submission of a detectives' file on the case to a Piraeus public prosecutor. Police questioned 43 people, among them Pantelis Sfinias' two sons and his second wife. Authorities looking into the death reportedly did not find any evidence suggesting foul play. According to media reports, 62-year-old Sfinias decided to jump out of his sixth-floor office window last Wednesday morning two months after the September 26 sinking of the Samina, in which 82 passengers died. Police yesterday questioned private detective Andreas Andrikopoulos, who says Sfinias had asked him to find a boat to take him to a rocky islet off the coast of the Cycladic island of Paros. The Express Samina ran aground on the well-marked islet of Portes and sunk. Andrikopoulos also said Sfinias told him he was going to give him a tape and a hand-written letter to take to a prominent Athens journalist and newspaper publisher. Major MFD stockholder and Interamerican chairman Dimitris Kontominas, who spoke to Sfinias over the telephone shortly before the latter committed suicide, was also called in for questioning late on Monday. Three investigators arrived at the Sfinias family home in Ekali at 5pm yesterday to question Sfinias' widow, Julie. During their two hour visit, Julie reportedly told police that her husband was very distressed over MFD's fate after the shipwreck. She apparently asked police to search the Ekali home for clues. Meanwhile, MFD yesterday announced that its new deputy chairman for the time being is Manolis Koulentakis. He is also the deputy chairman of Minoan Lines (MFD's parent company). Pythagoras Nagos was named new managing director of MFD. Sfinias' right-hand man Yiannis Lefakis and Kostas and Antonis Agapitos remain the legal representatives of MFD. Mega television Monday night presented a document dated October 16 which wiped Sfinias off the list of MFD's legal representatives. This list had not been made public. According to the chairman of Minoan Lines Constantinos Klironomos, it was Sfinias' personal decision to leave the board of directors. Meanwhile, a newly-wed Swiss couple who were on board the doomed Express Samina yesterday filed a suit against MFD demanding 200 million drachmas in compensation. The lawyer of these two survivors said that the couple was seeking psychological treatment to overcome the trauma of the shipwreck.
New mega-yacht to hit the high seas
The company, headed by Gina Mamidaki and Lakis Venetopoulos, is making a name for itself in marine tourism and aims to offer patrons a top level of service, quality and safety.
Greece, Turkey sign shipping agreement A series of regulations on shipping between Greece and Turkey was passed in Parliament on Tuesday. The regulations, approved by the Parliament's relevant committee, provides for Greek ships to enter Cypriot ports and immediately after to enter Turkish ports. This agreement is unprecedented. However, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis made note that Turkey is not maintaining agreements on the curbing of the influx of illegal immigrants to Greece.
THE SUICIDE OF SHIPOWNER PANTELIS SFINIAS HAS SHOCKED GREECE Prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed his regret for the suicide death of shipowner Pantelis Sfinias, managing director of the Minoan Lines shipping company, the owner of the "Express Samina" ferry-boat that sunk off the coasts of the Aegean island of Paros. A total of 81 people lost their lives in the September 26 shipwreck.The prime minister was informed of the tragic development during the joint press conference he gave with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest.Acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris stated that the conditions under which the suicide was committed are being investigated. Pantelis Sfinias, vice-president and managing director of the maritime company that owned the Express Samina ferry whose sinking resulted in the death of 80 people, jumped to his death Wednesday. Sfinias, 60, the managing director of Minoan Flying Dolphin, jumped off his 6th floor office at the MFD headquarters in the port of Piraeus. The Express Samina sank September 26 in a gale off the coast of Paros after it scraped a rocky outcropping. The tragic news of the suicide of Minoan Flying Dolphins' vice-president and chairman of the Greek Union of Passenger Shipping Owners, Pantelis Sfinias, undermined sentiment on the Athens Stock Exchange on Wednesday and halted an effort to push the market higher. The general index was extremely nervous, falling by 1.50 percent early in the session and rising by 1.42 percent later in the session. The index finally ended at 3,230.94 points, up 0.55 percent. Turnover was an improved 61.64 billion drachmas. Minoan Lines-ASE-trading suspension Greece's Capital Markets' Commission on Wednesday decided a temporary suspension of Minoan Lines' shares trading on the Athens Stock Exchange until Friday, 1 December. The move was aimed to facilitate the company to fully inform the market and investors over its moves following the tragic death of Minoan Lines' vice-president and Minoan Flying Dolphins' chief executive, Pantelis Sfinias. It is the first time in the history of the market that ASE authorities decided to suspend trading of a listed company's share during the session.
REPPAS ON THE EU-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP RELATION AND THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS Limnos-Imvros sea line? The Greek government insists in its position that the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish relations must be included in the EU-Turkey partnership relation text, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that the council of ministers' decision to move its discussion to December 4 does not create any problems to Greece. Specifically, Mr. Reppas stressed that the partnership text must reflect the spirit of the Helsinki decision, adding that any reactions on behalf of Turkey have as a result the undermining and the obstruction of the EU-Turkey rapprochement. On the three issues that have been raised by the Greek side to Turkey, which have already been rejected namely, the creation of a Limnos-Imvros sea line, the reopening of the Theology School of Halki and the issuing of a building permit for the new Greek embassy building in Ankara, the Greek government spokesman stated that it is known for a long time now that Turkey's position is not positive toward the above mentioned issues but this fact can not lead to the freezing of the bilateral relations.
Delay in Athens airport road link A six-lane freeway linking Athens' new international airport with the city will not be ready until two years after the facility's planned 2001 March opening, the Greek government has admitted. Transport Minister Christos Verelis last week clarified that the Attiki Odos highway will not be completed until the end of 2003. The Western Ymittos Ave ring road has also been delayed and the completion date set for June 2003. Furthermore, by March 1 only light maintenance service will be available for planes at the airport, in Spata, eastern Attica. Maintenance services will be moved gradually from the current facility at Hellenikon, southern Athens, to Spata though the government has set no timeframe. As for the Sofitel hotel being built on the site of the airport, it is not expected to be finished until May 1, 2001. Verelis said travellers and flight crew seeking to stay close to the airport could be accommodated at hotels in the surrounding Messogion region during the months of March and April. Additionally, the 48 international carriers operating in Greece have expressed concerns over their transfer to the new facility. In a positive development, however, the ministry announced that two express bus lines will service travellers using the airport. Buses will travel on a 24-hour basis between the airport and central Athens' Syntagma Square as well as Piraeus and Glyfada. Twenty new airconditioned buses, with luggage compartments, will ferry passengers from March 1, 2001, the date the airport is planned to open.
THE "GREEN LIGHT" WAS GIVEN FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS The privatization of the Skaramanga Shipyards got the "green light" today, when minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou tabled an amendment to be included in the tax draft bill under discussion. The amendment provides that the state's right to have 51% of the shares will be abolished but the 49% of the stocks owned by the workers will not be affected. This development in effect opens the way for an international tender concerning the majority of the shipyard's shares.
Greece determined to reform shipping GREEK Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis stressed yesterday that the government would not be deterred from its goal of deregulating the country's coastal shipping sector, and called on the main opposition New Democracy party to clarify its proposals on the subject. "I am waiting to hear what New Democracy's stance is on competition in the shipping sector, the upgrading of the services provided, as well as the prospect of cheaper tickets," he said. Papoutsis insisted that the government would remain steady in its determination to strengthen Greek shipping. "Nothing can be achieved from one moment to the next," he told a press conference, "but we have already made a tremendous effort and we have turned a new page" in the maritime sector. He added: "The road towards deregulating Greece's coastal shipping sector will open despite any obstacles raised by business or political interests." Papoutsis declined to comment on allegations made on Tuesday by shipowner Gerasimos Agoudimos that the government is displaying preferential treatment towards Attica Enterprises, and termed "hypocritical" New Democracy's approach to the issue of deregulating the industry. "The sudden interest shown by the main opposition party is belated," he said. "In the recent parliamentary debate New Democracy devoted a mere four lines [in later press coverage] to the subject of shipping. And before the elections [party leader Costas] Karamanlis made not a single reference to the subject." Referring to a report submitted to parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis concerning a sailing without a certificate of seaworthiness by the ferry Express Samina, Papoutsis said he was awaiting New Democracy's reaction. The report contained the findings of Piraeus prosecutor Grigoris Peponis after a probe turned up the ferry owner's oversight some two months before the vessel went down with heavy loss of life. "I'm also waiting for all the [political] parties' comments on the deregulation issue," added the minister, saying that so far only the Greek Communist Party (KKE) had come forward with proposals.
G. Agoudimos is said to have signed a newbuilding contract for two high-speed monohull ropax ferries (1800 pax - LOA 174m) with Aker Finnyards
ANEK denies Minoan link-up CRETE-BASED shipping company ANEK yesterday dismissed speculation of a link-up with Minoan Lines, saying that the subject has not been broached by either company. Speculation on a possible cooperation pact came after the merchant marine ministry issued two operating licences to Attica Enterprises and Strintzis Lines last month for the Crete route in the wake of the Express Samina tragedy and as a prelude to the lifting of cabotage. The move also ended the monopoly held previously by ANEK and Minoan on the same itinerary. Responding to intensified competition, ANEK managing director Stylianos Zabetakis told reporters yesterday that new entrants need to consider the massive costs involved in servicing the island. "The annual turnover for the Hania route amounts to 7.5 billion drachmas while the operating costs of the itinerary come to 3.5 billion drachmas per vessel," he said. ANEK's profits from the route total 780 million drachmas, Zabetakis said. ANEK is currently in the midst of a share capital increase to raise 40 billion drachmas. Commencing on October 20 and scheduled to end Monday, the equity increase involves 34 million new shares priced at 1,100 drachmas, an issue of 17 million new shares and a private placement of 2 million new equities. Half of the funds raised will be used to pay off loans related to the newly acquired Lefka Ori, and the rest for a second newbuilding, share capital increases for subsidiaries and construction of an office building for ANEK
Brindisi Brindisi Terminal Italia (BTI), founded two years ago by the city council (20%), Papalini Partecipazioni and Freeport Malta (40% each), is to invest Lire100bn in the completion of Costa Morena container terminal, which will serve the Adriatic feeder routes of MSC, Maersk Sealand and CMA. Two new Liebherr cranes have been installed with four further cranes on order. The Italy's Ministry of Public Works is contributing Lire44bn for work on the quay walls and on the entrance channel
PIRAEUS, Greece (AP) -- A court awarded $250,000 Wednesday to a survivor of a ferry sinking that left at least 80 people dead, the first ruling in dozens of lawsuits against the shipping company, local media said. Greek passenger Stathis Livieratos, 22, had sued the ferry's operator for damages from the accident in which the Express Samina struck a well-marked rocky islet and sank off the Aegean island of Paros on Sept. 26, the official Athens News Agency said. The company, Minoan Flying Dolphins, said it would appeal the decision. But it must deposit a check for the full amount with the court within three days as a guarantee until the appeal procedure is completed, ANA said. The company also faces criminal charges for exposing passengers to danger. Dozens of lawsuits seeking compensation totaling more than $32.5 million have been filed against the company by crew members, survivors and relatives of those who died. The sinking was Greece's worst maritime disaster in 35 years. On Tuesday, several coast guard officials were charged with criminal negligence in connection with the sinking. The ferry's captain, Vasilis Yiannakis, is currently in custody pending trial on charges equivalent to murder.
Piraeus Port Authority to invest Dr 15.6 bln in 2001 Piraeus Port Authority, which is slated for part-privatization, is to spend 15.6 billion drachmas on investments in 2001, up 13.5 percent on 2000, it said in a statement on Friday. The port authority's board expects revenue in 2000 to be 2.0 billion drachmas higher than expected with a surplus from business operations expected to total 3.9 billion drachmas in 2001.
Greek Harbour Corps chief Rear Admiral Andreas Syrigos and his two deputies are among six HC officers charged as the probe in to the sinking of the ferry Express Samina proceeds. They have been charged with dereliction of duty in the most wide-ranging set of charges to arise from the disaster which cost 80 lives. The ferry's captain and owner representatives have been charged with offences which occurred before the loss.
Vernicos Yachts-hotel acquisition Vernicos Yachts, a listed sea-tourism company, announced the purchase of a hotel in Porto Heli Ermioni, in the Peloponesus, for 604 million drachmas. The purchase was made through a public tender by National Bank of Greece. The hotel has a capacity of 163 rooms, 310 beds, and is built on a site of 8,210 square metres.
3.450 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED BY THE GREEK COAST GUARD THIS YEAR The Greek Coast Guard arrested 3.450 illegal immigrants since the beginning of the year, while 135 slave-traders were also arrested and 38 ships were confiscated. It should be noted that at dawn today Coast Guard officers located a ship with 40 illegal immigrants, among them one child, in the sea region of Saronikos Bay, off the coasts of Athens. The two-member crew was also arrested.
MFD accused of pressuring coastguard PIRAEUS public prosecutor Grigoris Peponis pressed charges yesterday against members of the Greek coastguard, the merchant ship inspectorate, and the owner-operators of the Express Samina ferry. The charges were made following a month-long official investigation into the ship's seaworthiness, and found that the Express Samina had sailed two months prior to its sinking without certification that it met safety regulations. According to reports, the case file concerning the ship's seaworthiness has been sent to parliament where it will be examined to determine whether any politicians are also liable for misconduct. Reports speculated that former merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis may be connected to the incident. Meanwhile, a second file has been sent to the appeals magistrate, Nikos Karadimitriou, who is heading an investigation into the ship's September 26 sinking last September off the island of Paros, killing at least 80 passengers. Peponis has charged the former director of the merchant ship inspectorate, Damianos Doumanis, and the head of the coastguard's office, Andonis Pitsoulakis, with disrupting the safety of shipping transport and possibly endangering lives after they permitted the Express Samina to sail without certification that it was safe. The ship's owner-operator, Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) has also been charged with instigating a crime, namely of giving port authorities no alternative but to allow the ship to sail uncertified, employing a tactic used by many shipping companies, reports said.MFD had allegedly sold hundreds of tickets to passengers for a July 18 Piraeus-Mykonos-Samos-Ikaria journey on the Express Samina, after which they loaded the passengers onto the vessel in order to pressure the coastguard into letting the ship depart. The ship was permitted to sail only after captain Vassilis Yiannakis, who is already in pre-trial custody over the ferry's sinking, and the superintendent mechanic signed statements taking responsibility for the passengers' safety. The ship's captain has been charged. Finally, misdemeanour charges of dereliction of duty were brought against the coastguard chief, vice-admiral Andreas Syrigos and his two deputies, Nikos Economakis and Andonis Karamichalakos, who allegedly failed to take action after being informed in writing on July 19 that many ferries did not meet safety standards. On his way to a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis said yesterday that the issue will be investigated and also indicated that changes would be made in the hierarchy of the port authorities.
Strintzis Lines orders new fast ferries Strintzis Lines, a listed passenger shipper, has ordered two high-speed passenger and car ferries from Daewoo Ship-yards in Korea.The vessels will be used to ply domestic routes and are due for delivery in 2002, Strintzis said in a statement on Monday. The company's advertising head, Dionysis Theodoratos, told during Greece's Philoxenia travel fair that Strintzis had recently signed a contract with the Daewoo shipyards for the construction of two car-passenger ferries as well an option for a third vessel. They will be similar to the newly-built Ithaki though with improved technical specifications and able to reach higher speeds. Each will be able to carry 1,600 passengers, 750 passenger cars or 100 trucks and 100 cars, and operate an average speed of 28 miles. The vessels should be completed by 2002, when Greece's merchant marine will be liberalised, earlier than planned. Another two vessels are under construction at Greece's Skaramanga shipyards and are due to be delivered within 2001. Strintzis has the option of ordering a third vessel from Skaramanga.
BANK GUARANTEE ISSUED BY MFD TO OPERATE THE HIGH SPEED (1,2,3&4) CATAMARANS MFD has been allowed by the court to continue to operate the latest Austal Catamarans against issuance of a bank guarantee deemed to be sufficient to cover the claims and legal cost of the casualties famillies after the Express Samina shipwreck. Austal is said to loose already about 5 M. AUD on these 3 catamarans and had to pay for the stay of about 100 Australian engineer in Greece during the summer to cope with technical difficulties. UNAUTHORISED DIVERS EXPLORE EXPRESS SAMINA 3 divers have been caught around the Samina. They argued that they were trying to pump the oil and as a matter of fact, they had the adequat equipment for that purpose (they had also video and camera). After this unauthorized inspection, all instruments in the bridge were discovered completely dismantled and/or broken. MFD has something to hide!
Official report unveils extensive tax evasion in Greece An average of 12.2 percent of Greek businesses are tax evading, according to a report by the Financial Crimes Squad drafted on inspection figures during the January-September 2000 period. The report said that the Financial Crimes Squad has found 15.625 cases of extensive tax evasion in a total of 128,142 inspections made in the first nine months of the year, or 12.2 percent. Tax evasion rates in the production subsidies and the manufacturing sectors totalled 66.7 percent, 50 percent in inventory, 40 percent in non-profit agencies, 36.4 percent in copyright, 29 percent in entertainment and 24.4 percent in tourist services. Financial crimes squad to target e-commerce, brokerages: The government's financial crimes squad is to step up checks in 2001 on e-commerce, stock brokerages and intellectual property, its secretary, George Kanellopoulos, said on Monday. Kanellopoulos was addressing an internal meeting of the squad's senior officers, held in the northern town of Alexandroupoli. Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis, whose ministry supervises the squad, told the meeting that the department had been highly successful in catching tax evaders. The squad is conducting a "name and shame" campaign, releasing to media lists of celebrities and established professionals who have failed to pay tax.
Express Samina - public prosecutor - charges The Piraeus Public Prosecutor on Tuesday pressed charges against the captain of the passenger ferry "Express Samina" and harbour officials, as well as ship-owners Minoan Flying Dolphins, though not in connection with the ship's fateful shipwreck off Paros in September, which resulted in the deaths of 80 passengers. The charges actually concern the ship's condition two months prior to the accident, when the "Express Samina" was permitted to sail to the Aegean islands without the proper certificates of seaworthiness, while among the accused are higher echelons in the Coast Guard, the Commercial Fleet Inspection service and Merchant Marine ministry officials.
EXPLOSION ON A TURKISH TANKER CARRYING CHEMICALS SOUTH OF CRETE An explosion rocked a Turkish tanker carrying chemicals. The ship was sailing 30 nautical miles south the southern Aegean island of Crete when the explosion occurred. Three Turkish crew members were injured and they were taken to a military hospital after they were picked up by a Greek all- weather "Super Puma" helicopter which responded to the SOS signals sent out by the fifteen-member Turkish crew. According to information, the explosion took place in the ship's hold and it is not clear yet what caused it.
Piraeus port authority to enter stock exchange The Piraeus port authority is preparing to sail full steam ahead into the Athens stock exchange following a decision of the Greek interministerial decentralisation committee allowing the creation of a company which will undertake the operation and management of the organisation. The Bank of America has been appointed financial adviser to the company while Kantor Consulting will be responsible for planning and restructuring, American Appraisal for evaluation and appraisal, KPMG for accounting and IB Hadjiprodromou-EP Triantafilou and Associates for legal services.
Commission activates Community Maritime Pollution Task Force to assist French authorities after the sinking of the chemical tanker IEVOLI SUN The services of the European Commission have immediately activated the Community Task Force in response to a request for assistance by the French Secretariat General de la Mer, which belongs to the office of the French Prime Minister, following the sinking of the chemical tanker IEVOLI SUN. The French authorities have asked to be informed about existing means and inspection methods for this type of chemical marine accidents. The Commission has equally been asked to supply information on experience existing in other Member States regarding the reaction of styrene in extreme conditions. The French authorities have also made a request for information regarding any existing assessment of the environmental impact of styrene leaking into the marine environment. The French authorities have requested to the Commission to mobilise its network of experts on maritime experts. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstr'm declared : "From the outset, the services of the Commission and the French authorities have been in close contact. The Commission is ready to provide assistance on the ground through its network of marine pollution experts." Mrs Wallstr'm added that this accident underlines the importance of reinforcing EU cooperation, as recently proposed by the Commission. On 27 September 2000 the Commission put forward a proposal for a Council Decision establishing an EU mechanism for the coordination of the civil protection intervention in the event of emergencies, including marine pollution.
Italian chemical tanker sinking - statement by Loyola de Palacio European Commission Vice-President in charge of Transport and Energy, Loyola de Palacio, expresses her deep regret at the loss of "IEVOLI SUN" but is relieved to learn that none of the seafarers onboard was lost and wishes to extend her gratitude to the heroic work by the Cherbourg maritime command. She is very concerned about this new maritime accident involving a tanker vessel. Mrs de Palacio stated : "This latest accident demonstrates graphically the need for adoption as soon as possible of the package of measures proposed by the Commission to put in place stronger safeguards against these kinds of disasters".
New passenger shipping operating licenses given for Cyclades and Dodecannese islands The Merchant Marine Ministry's Coastal Transport Advisory Committee decided on Monday to give new operating licenses for the Cyclades islands to the "NEL" and "Strintzis Lines" shipping companies, as well as to the "Attica Enterprises" for the Dodecannese islands. The committee also proposed a 10 per cent increase in fares for passengers and vehicles. Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis will decide in the next few days on the final percentage of fare increases.
10% rise in sea fares . The Sea Transport Advisory Committee last night proposed a 10% rise in sea fares and also approved new liscences for ships travelling to and from the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands. It has also decided to recall the liscence of passenger ship "Express Naias", for not meeting the EU fire security requirements. In the meantime, important findings, including the ship's log -salvaged by divers on Saturday from the "Express Samina", shiprwrecked earlier this month off Paros island, are expected to shed light on the cause of the tragedy in which at least 80 people lost their lives. The divers will continue their work in an effort to enter the engine room and the ship's garage, to check for any trapped victims.
Passenger shipping advisory body to decide on fare increases on Monday A demand by the Passenger Ship Owners' Union to increase ferry fares on ships plying local routes is to be examined on Monday by the Coastal Shipping Transport Advisory Committee. The last increase in ferry fares took place two years ago, while ship owners had demanded an emergency increase of 10 per cent last June to offset rising dollar prices and doubled fuel costs. The merchant marine ministry, however, had avoided granting the request during the summer months in order to avoid passing the costs on to consumers at the height of the holiday season and to help keep down inflation. Ship owners argue that the costs of running the passenger ferries have risen by twice the fare increases they have asked for. During its meeting on Monday, the advisory committee will also consider penalties for ships that failed to promptly comply with EU fire-safety regulations, as well as four new applications by NEL, Attica Businesses and Strintzis Lines for permits to bring new ferries into operation.
Greek ferry ban lifted The operating ban on 61 of the 65 ferries intially grounded by the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry on 1st October, after the loss of the Express Samina, has been lifted. The ferries, say the Ministry, have completed the necessary upgrades and can now re-enter service.
Passenger shipping group to study fare hikes The Passenger Shipping Review Committee will convene on Monday to examine a request by the Union of Passenger Shipping Ship owners for increases in ticket prices. No increase in passenger ships' ticket prices has been endorsed over the past two years. Ship owners had requested an extraordinary 10 per cent increase from Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis in June, due to the increase in the dollar parity and the rapid increase in fuel prices. The request had not been examined during the summer months, while Papoutsis had said during a recent visit to Thessaloniki, northern Greece, that an increase in ticket prices will be examined in October.
Merchant marine minister announces creation of regulatory authority Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Wednesday announced the drafting of a bill creating a regulatory authority on unfair competition for passenger shipping, to avert cartel type phenomena in the Greek market. "The cartel that was created by passenger shipping companies a few years ago in the Adriatic Sea, will not be created in the Aegean," Papoutsis said. "Its about time that everyone understood that we are in a new era. There is no need for 'troublesome behavior' by some that say they control the port. The new regulations in passenger shipping are clear. Every businessman has responsibilities to the consumers," he added.
Eighteen crewmembers of the Samina Express ferry that sank last month with the lost of 80 lives have filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from the ship's owning company Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD), while an Athens court has banned MDF from selling or transferring its fixed assets, pending the hearing of all compensation actions filed by the shipwreck's survivors and the victims' bereaved relatives. The crewmembers are seeking a total of 2.9 billion drachmas from MFD, claiming that the sinking has rendered them nervous wrecks. So far, 19 MFD has been served with 19 claims related to the Samina Express sinking, cumulatively amounting to 11 billion drachmas.
Greece's ANEK Lines has taken delivery of its newest acquisition, the 'Olympic Champion', from the Norwegian shipyard Fosen. It is the first of two vessels ordered from Fosen, the total cost of which is 205 million euros, a sum being financed through a consortium of financial institutions headed by Chase Manhattan Bank. The 204m-long ship, which has a 1,850 passenger capacity and can carry 120 trucks and 120 cars, operates at a maximum speed of 32 miles an hour. It features luxurious lounge areas, bars, a casino and pools. The second vessel is expected to be delivered in May 2001 in line with the Crete-based company's fleet expansion.
MINISTER BEARS TEETH AT SHIPOWNERS WITH WARNING "We are not in joint government with the shipowners," the Minister of Merchant Marine Christos Papoutsis stressed in an interview with the Athens daily "Ta Nea", where he unleashed his ire over the shipping sector's threat to immobilize its vessels during this week's long holiday. Mr. Papoutsis stressed that the state will not allow the shipowners to anchor their ships in protest and vowed that the ships will sail on October 27. Moreover, the Merchant Marine Minister announced that a series of vast changes are to be enforced in the shipping sector, which had been planned prior to the catastrophic sinking of the Samina Express. According to the Minister, these changes concern safety, rendering the sector a competitive and modern one. "The safety of passenger ships remains the primary aim of the Merchant Marine Ministry. Our country has an obligation to adapt all passenger ships to the demands of international conventions and European directives and our government sticks to this strictly and conscientiously." Meanwhile, the Ministry has ordered emergency scheduling of fewer vessels and has also opened up routes to greater competition, as a great number of ships will not be allowed to sail as they have failed to meet the October 1 deadline of a European Union directive pertaining to safety and operation.
Tourism in Greece - 2000 Tourism in Greece in 2000 was essentially at the same levels with last year contradicting the scenarios on an increase of 8- 10%, according to data provided by the National Statistics Agency. Specifically, the overnight stops in the month of August were 2.776.346 compared to 2.823.419 in the same period last year, presenting a drop of 1.67% which means that tourism in Greece did not stabilize but on the contrary it declined. Also, the National Statistics Agency announced that the tourist arrivals on chartered flights recorded in the country's main airports in the month of August were 1.004.304, compared to 1.000.465 in the same month last year. The figures on the overnight stops come from a sample research conducted in 291 hotels across the country.
TURKISH BOAT WITH 500 ILLEGALS MOORS AT CHIOS A Turkish-flagged vessel carrying over 500 illegal immigrants and presently anchored at the island of Chios, will be towed by Greek coast guard authorities into the international waters, as soon as the region's stormy weather subsides. The boat, which has a seven-member Ukrainian crew, was forced to moor at a bay the northwestern shore of Chios when it encountered gusty winds. Its captain has also called for food and water.
Former ND leader Evert files suit against former merchant marine minister, Minoan Lines, competition commission Former New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert, on Thursday filed a suit with Supreme Court prosecutor Panagiotis Dimopoulos regarding the shipwreck of the "Express Samina," in which 80 people drowned. Evert's suit targets former merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis, the chairman and vice-chairman of shipping firms Minoan Lines and Minoan Flying Dolphins, Constantine Klironomos and Pantelis Sfinias, and against the top-ranking staff in the Competition Commission. Most of Evert's charges concern the virtual monopoly that Minoan Lines was allowed to develop in Aegean passenger shipping, which he claims allowed the company to continue using substandard vessels on island routes.
Gov't says deregulation of passenger shipping to go ahead Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis said on Thursday that "the government will not bow to extortion and threats. Laws will be applied and the deregulation of passenger shipping will go ahead with steadfast and decisive steps." Papoutsis was speaking in the wake of statements made on Wednesday by the President of the Minoan Lines company, Costas Klironomos, that "now that the Merchant Marine Ministry has granted operating licenses to other companies, whoever comes to Crete will not have a very nice time." Papoutsis said "all should realize that the era of privileged and exclusive lines for exploitation has finished for good", adding that "the criterion for our policy is the service and security of citizens, healthy competition and protection of the public interest."
Papoutsis urges passenger shipping sector deregulation Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Wednesday urged for the deregulation of the domestic passenger-shipping sector and said that the government would submit a new draft bill in parliament next month. "The invitation is open to everyone to bring new ships in passenger shipping. We give equal opportunities to all. No one has the privilege of exclusive operating rights. All shipping lines are free and the rules of the game are credible and transparent," Papoutsis told reporters. He said that competition among shipping companies would benefit passengers with lower prices and better services. Papoutsis said that the government would submit a draft bill on deregulating the passenger-shipping sector in parliament in November. "Now is the time for political parties. They must contribute in an effort for a better future of the shipping sector," he said. He also stressed the need for an improved on harbor facilities in the country to become more competitive.
Greece lowers ferry age-ceiling, calls for EU limit Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis said on Friday that Greece would lower the age-ceiling for passenger ships to 30 years from the current 35 years in 2006. Papoutsis in November had asked the European Union's executive Commission to introduce a ceiling in the 15-nation bloc, which currently has no ruling on the age of ferries. Individual member countries also have no age limit. He also sought EU measures to restrict passenger shipping in adverse weather conditions.
Small and medium-sized enterprises -the backbone of Greece's vital tourism industry- will be strengthened through EU-funded programmes that will take them into the digital age and boost their competitiveness, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis asserted last Thursday. Addressing businesspeople from a wide range of tourism sectors, including shipping, marine tourism and accommodation, he emphasised the importance of providing support to SMEs, particularly the smallest businesses. Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT) general secretary Evgenios Yiannakopoulos announced a total of 596.5 billion drachmas would be ploughed into Greek tourism over the next five years under the Third EU Structural Fund and through private contributions. A network of 13 support centres will be created which will enable SMEs to gain access to technical know-how, ranging from basic information to research studies. This initiative, to cost 7.3 billion drachmas, will become reality in April next year, Yiannakopoulos said. The main focus, however, will be an overall modernisation of the industry - covering hotels, campsites and, for the first time, rented rooms and apartments. A total of 165,000 beds around the country are expected to be upgraded and 12,500 businesses provided with support - at a cost of 126.7 billion drachmas. Enterprises will be assisted with business plans and promotional activities. Yiannakopoulos promised a reduction in bureaucracy -for which Greece is notorious- allowing more funds to reach businesses faster. "Tourism is a major industry, which contributes to economic development, employment but also the way Greece is viewed abroad," Christodoulakis stated. "Travellers' demands have increased along with competition between destinations, even those situated a fair distance from our borders. We face many challenges." The industry must go "higher, stronger, faster", declared Christodoulakis, who employed the sporting phrase to highlight the importance of making major improvements over the next four years in order to take advantage of the spotlight to be shone on Greece when the capital hosts the Olympics in 2004. "As the president of the World Tourism Organisation stated on World Tourism Day, we must utilise technology but also have respect for the environment, while ensuring the industry's viability," he said. "Greece has so many natural assets and we have great capabilities, I believe, greater than ever before." He urged entrepreneurs to move away from the "one-dimensional" attitudes of the past - Greece's image as purely a "sun 'n' sea" destination, and work to lengthen the tourist season beyond the months of May to October. "We must pass into a new phase characterised by a vast range of tourist activity and the market must be decentralised," Christodoulakis said. And, for this reason, a significant portion of funding -36.1 billion drachmas- will be funnelled into alternative forms of tourism such as spa resorts, golf courses, marine tourism, convention organisation, sports trips and gastronomy-based travel while those who produce traditional handicrafts and unique food items - sought after by visitors - will also be eligible for grants. "No sector of the industry will be left out," Christodoulakis confirmed. Meanwhile, in an effort to draw a greater number of "quality" travellers and educate all visitors about Greece's history and culture, he said the Athens Festival would be extended. Tourism studies in Greece will, finally, be improved, he stated, underlining the fact that the field is people-oriented and "the person makes the difference". Skills upgrading is necessary for all staff in the industry, "from the manager to the last employee", Christodoulakis said. A total of 15.4 billion drachmas has been allocated to education and the scheme will go into effect in December. The government intends to introduce training in new tourism-related professions, so that Greece will be prepared to meet the needs of Olympic visitors. Christodoulakis pointed out that the general upgrading must also address safety measures in the country's accommodation units. Furthermore, he announced that a support fund would be established to provide assistance in emergency situations, such as the case of the eastern Aegean island of Samos, parts of which were ravaged by fire last summer resulting in losses for its tourism industry. Christodoulakis said matters such as compensation could be dealt with through the fund.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASED BY 5% IN GREECE The traffic accidents increased by 5% in Greece in the past few years, while they were reduced in the rest of Europe, according to the findings displayed in the Greek conference on traffic accidents that was held in Ioannina, north-western Greece under the auspices of the University of Ioannina. As it was stressed in the conference, pedestrians and private car passengers, who are over the age of 65, are 15 times more likely to lose their lives. Based on the figures provided by the University of Ioannina, the typical Greek driver is described as impatient (73.2%), in a hurry (46.4%), rude to other drivers and pedestrians (35.3%) and without sufficient knowledge of the Highway Code (96.4%).
TAX EVASION IS SKYROCKETING IN GREECE Tax evasion and the tax and customs violations in general make up the majority of the cases examined by the Greek Economic Crime Enforcement Agency. Specifically, a total of 502.573 cases have been recorded in the period from April 1,1997 until December 31, 1999 and 83.6% of them concerned tax violations. In 1998, in a total of 631.361 cases 61.5% of them concerned tax violations. Finally, in 1999, in a total of 518.764 cases 62.26% concerned tax violations.
47 RESCUED FROM FERRY WITH MECHANICAL PROBLEMS Thirty-two passengers and 15 crew members of a passenger ferry boat spent at least five hours aboard the malfunctioning vessel in the Saronic Gulf, before the Express Karystos ferry they were on was towed back to shore after experiencing mechanical difficulties shortly after it departed from the port of Lavrio. The ferry's captain advised the coastguard that he was experiencing problems with the ship's wheel. He reportedly said the ship "would not obey". The Express Karystos entered a cove to wait out gale force nine winds in the area. All passengers and crew were safe, according to the merchant marine ministry.
BOMB PLANTED OUTSIDE EX-MARINE MINISTERS OFFICE Authorities yesterday detonated a powerful bomb planted outside the Piraeus office of former merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis, who has become the target of harsh criticism over alleged shady deals during his tenure. An anarchist group called Revolutionary Nuclei claimed responsibility for the bomb when an anonymous telephone call was made at about 2.15pm to the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia" and the privately-owned Flash radio warning that a bomb planted at Mr. Soumakis' fifth floor office was to go off in exactly 25 minutes. Critics have accused the former minister of showing preference for certain shipping lines in the issuing of permits to operate on specific routes. He is accused of providing preferential treatment to Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD), the operator of the Express Samina that ran aground on September 26 killing 80 people.
A CARGO SHIP SANK OFF THE COASTS OF THE ISLAND OF SAMOTHRACE IN NORTHERN AEGEAN The cargo ship Yutong I sank off the coasts of the island of Samothrace, in northern Aegean this afternoon. According to initial information, it sank because its cargo shifted. According to Athens television station "Alpha", the cargo ship was carrying bricks. Its crew members were rescued by ships sailing in the region and they are in good state.
Creation of new sea lines Nobody would further have the exclusive priviledge to run a sea line said Merchant Marine Minister Hristos Papoutsis. He also announced the upgrading of the major ports in the country. On its part, the Panhellenic Navy Federation described the decision for the creation of new sea lines as a positive step.
Express SAMINA shipwreck The inspection of the shipwreck of the ferry Express Samina will start on the island of Paros, if the weather conditions allow it. Divers and experts will inspect the ship, while the special magistrate of the court of appeal Nikos Karadimitriou will supervise the inspection as he has been appointed to investigate the causes of the accident. Meanwhile, the two new maritime accidents last Saturday have caused a stir in the public opinion. The 45 year old assist cook Michalis Chatzigeorgiou lost his life when the cargo boat Yuton I was being evacuated after the vessel made a 40 degree tilt northwest of Samothrace, while the passengers and the crew of the ferryboat Karystos Express took a fright when the ship went adrift, due to damage of the ships helm near the port of Lavrio.
The four High -Speed ships of the Minoan Lines seized The four High -Speed ships of the Minoan Lines Shipping Company- owner of the Samina Express which recently sank off the coast of paros -have been seized, as a result of law-- suits filed against the shipping company demanding for compensations amounting over 3 billion dr. In the meantime, reacting to the way the incident was presented by the mass media, all shipping companies have agreed to immobilise their ships on October, 27.
Cruise operators cancel Israel routes THE ISLAND'S three cruise operators have cancelled all trips to Israel until further notice, they said yesterday. Louis, Paradise and Salamis said they had diverted their cruises to other destinations such as Lebanon, Egypt and Rhodes, although Salamis said it had not cancelled its combination Israel-Egypt cruise due to sail out on Sunday. Paris Derkrikorian, from the sales and marketing department of Paradise Cruises said they had suspended their twice-weekly Israel trips. We diverted the boats to Egypt and Lebanon,? he said. ?We had bookings cancelled and we asked them if they wanted this or that destination, or take a refund. We are not going to Israel, definitely not. We have to be sure everything is clear and there's no trouble. Louis marketing manager George Michaelides said they had also cancelled all tours from this weekend. ?In view of the developments in Israel we are now changing our schedules and have more cruises to Egypt, including Port Said and Alexandria, and most probably Rhodes,? he said. This is provisional until we see what will happen. A representative of Salamis said the company had cancelled its weekly cruise to Israel but would continue to run the combination Israel-Egypt tour, which will leave on Sunday and return on Wednesday.
PAPOUTSIS: THE BLACKMAIL BY THE COASTAL SHIPPING COMPANIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED Minister of merchant marine Christos Papoutsis issued a strong warning to shipowners who decided to immobilize their ships on October 27 in protest for the fact that they were allegedly publicly humiliated after the "Samina" tragedy near the island of Paros. Mr. Papoutsis characterized the statement issued by the 18 coastal shipping companies as provocative and stressed that no blackmail will be accepted. He also announced that all the passenger ship permits that are still pending will be examined next week taking under consideration the transportation needs of the islands.
Greek ferry rivals face up to different futures The new safety regulations imposed after the sinking of a ferry in the Aegean Sea have brought mixed fortunes for Greece's ferry operators. For Minoan Flying Dolphins, owners of the Express Samina, which sank in the Aegean Sea last month with the loss of 79 lives, it has been a grim few weeks. It was forced to postpone indefinitely its long-awaited listing on the Athens stock exchange. Shares in Minoan Lines, MFD's Crete-based parent group, the largest ferry operator in Europe, have been hammered down 33 per cent, wiping Dr60bn ($154m) off its market value. On the other hand, the Attica group, which owns MFD's main competitor Strintzis Lines, is likely to benefit from new safety regulations imposed after the sinking of Express Samina. Liberalisation of the domestic shipping market is also expected to open routes for Strintzis, allowing it to gain market share. After the outcry following the Express Samina incident the government is to tighten the age limit for Aegean ferries, reducing it to 30 years from 35. This is expected to force MFD's older vessels into retirement. "Minoan is already stretched with a new building programme for its Adriatic fleet," said Nikos Veraros, analyst at National Securities in Athens. "Those ships are too big for most Aegean ports, and it may be hard for MFD's other shareholders to raise financing for new fast ferries designed for the Aegean." But Strintzis is well placed for expansion in the Aegean. Its parent group pioneered the introduction of fast ferries. With six vessels operating this year and another six on order, Attica plans to start operating on Baltic and North Sea routes. Strintzis is also expected to gain from the government decision last week to open Greek island routes to full competition from October 2002, more than a year earlier than planned. Liberalisation would loosen the Minoan group's grip on the domestic shipping market. Between them, Minoan and MFD control about 80 per cent of the market after Minoan acquired about 70 ageing ferries and hydrofoils last year. Analysts said liberalisation would speed renewal of Greece's coastal shipping fleet, which has an average age of more than 25 years, and improve services to the islands. "Routes will be restructured to reflect market conditions, and pricing will follow suit. There are good opportunities for companies equipped with good quality ships that can handle the logistics," said Mr Veraros. Analysts forecast 8 to 10 per cent growth yearly in the Aegean market over the next three years. More than 9m journeys are projected this year, with growth shared between popular resort islands and smaller islands. Liberalisation would also make it possible for Attica to put fast ferries on routes to Crete, where it had been refused a licence, and to other big islands like Rhodes and Mytilene. Attica used Strintzis, a struggling family controlled operator listed on the Athens stock exchange, to gain access to domestic routes. It acquired a 41 per cent stake in the company last year and backed a $200m fleet renewal programme. This year, Strintzis took delivery from Greece's Scaramanga yard of a $50m fast ferry, the first to be designed specifically for the Aegean. Three more are on order, with deliveries due to be completed in 2002. Alexander Panagopoulos, chief executive of Attica, said: "These are ships that are designed to meet Aegean weather and port conditions, and also to offer high quality service. "They will make Strintzis very competitive in a liberalised market."
Doomed ferry's 'sister ship' inspected in hope of clues AS BAD weather hampered the attempts of divers to continue their investigation of the sunken ferry Express Samina, which went down after running aground on rocks off the island of Samos on Tuesday, September 26, a contingent of four experts arrived in Piraeus to examine the Express Naias - described as the doomed ferry's 'sister ship' - for clues they expect will help divers to examine parts of the wrecked ship that they have so far been unable to reach. There have been persistent fears that some persons may have been trapped in the engine room and that others may have been trapped inside their cars in the ship's garage. Reports yesterday said that the Samina and the Naias were built during the first half of 1966 and are virtually identical in their construction as well as in their mechanical parts. The experts were particularly interested yesterday in studying the layout of the steel plating of the Naias' garage, an inspection which they expect will facilitate divers' attempts to penetrate the garage and engine room of the wrecked ship. Before leaving for Paros after inspecting the Naias, a member of the investigating team told reporters that "this inspection will obviously assist us in probing the hull of the Samina. It was really so similar to the Naias that one could say they were different only in name". With the probe of the Samina suspended pending an improvement in the weather, appeals magistrate Nikos Karadimitriou - who heads the investigation - went to the Cycladic island of Syros to examine the ferry's log and other documents brought up from the wreck on Saturday by divers from the vessel Maraki.
SAMINA CAPTAIN:FIRST MATE WAS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT In testimony provided today, the captain of the ferry boat that sunk on September 26 accuses his first mate of having shown "gross negligence" that led to the disaster which that cost the lives of 80 people. According to today's issue of the Athens daily "Ta Nea", the Captain of the Samina Express ferry Vasilis Yiannakis openly accuses first mate Anastasios Psychoyios during his testimony before an appeals court judge, stating that "I can't accept his excuses... None of his claims stand. There's no way a wave can shift a ship..." Both Yiannakis and Psychoyios have been remanded pending trial on multiple counts of manslaughter "with possible intent" and other lesser charges". The first mate, who insists that the disaster was caused by adverse weather, is also targeted in testimonies provided by two other defendants, helmsman Panayiotis Kasdaglis and midshipman George Patelas. According to the investigation's findings so far, none of the crew's four members who were assigned to the ship's bridge that ill-fated night attribute the accident to mechanical malfunction - something which Psychoyios himself vehemently rules out, even though his attorneys are claiming otherwise. Capt. Yiannakis accuses Psychoyios of having failed to summon him quickly enough so that he could be at the ship's bridge, and said that "I would never steer the vessel to the left or the right, since there would a risk of lateral impact with deadly results, which is what happened... I also believe that had he (Psychoyios) turned the helm 25 degrees to the left, then the impact would have taken place at the stern and we would have suffered lesser damages." The defendants are appearing before an appeals court judge, an unusual measure taken when the crimes are so serious that they need investigation by the most experienced judicial officials. The council of appeals court judges on Syros - the administrative center of the Cycladic islands -have elected their colleague Nikos Karadimitriou to lead the investigation. Dimitris Hondroyiannis will be his substitute.
Minoan Flying Dolphins sued A suit was submitted against the owners of the Minoan Flying Dolphins and the officers of the "Express Samina" ferry, which sank two weeks ago off the island of Paros, costing the lives of 80 passengers. Manolis Kalargyros, who lost his parents in the shipwreck, filed the suit. Lawyer K. Livieratos, who survived the shipwreck, also sought a restraining order on the sale of MFD assets of up to 100 million drachmas. The order would include the "High Speed 4" passenger ferry. Death toll from "Express Samina" shipwreck climbs to 80: The death toll from the "Express Samina" ferry which sank off the island of Paros two weeks ago has risen to 80, it was announced on Monday. The body of Albanian national Akis Skantera was found in the sea region of Mykonos island. His travel documents were found in his clothes. Relatives had said that he was traveling on the ship.
Samina Express The body recovered yesterday off the island of Mykonos was identified as the missing Albanian citizen Akis Skandera, one of the missing victims of the shipwreck Samina. In the meantime many of the survivors of the sea tragedyhave started filling law suits against the shipping company. Demonstrations were held on the islands of Samos and Ikaria yesterday demanding the upgrading of sea transport.
SHIPWRECK SURVIVOR FILES FIRST SUIT FOR DAMAGES A claim for damages over 50 million drachmas, the first in a series that are expected to ensue, has been filed against Minoan Flying Dolphins by one of the survivors of September 26's disastrous shipwreck where 80 people lost their lives. The lawsuit, filed by 19-year-old Efstathios Livieratos, also calls for the attachment of the shipping company's property, while the court of the first instance has already proceeded to temporarily restrain the title transfer of the "High Speed 4". Another man, Emannuel Kalargyros, who lost both his parents in the shipwreck, has filed a complaint with the Piraeus district attorney against the ferry's crew, the Merchant Marine Ministry's registry for inspections of merchant ships, et al. The 34-year-old vessel "Samina" sank after hitting a large patch of rocks in rough seas about two miles off the island. According to survivor reports, the ship fell apart as it sank and panicked passengers started jumped overboard when the ferry boat listed and began sinking.
GA FERRIES CHECKING ITS FLEET Greek ferry line GA Ferries has announced that three of its seven ships comply with the EU's Eurosolas regulations, related to shipping safety, and are operating as normal. Its Jeffery 1 highspeed vessel meets the standards of the new highspeed vessel code, the company pointed out. More specifically, the firm's vessels Milena, Marina and Romilda continue to sail while another three have stopped operating in order to undergo annual checks. GA Ferries intends to undertake measures ensuring its entire fleet abides by the EU directive during the yearly inspection.
MFD CHECKING ITS FLEET Greek maritime company Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) has asserted that the vast majority of its fleet abides by the EU's Eurosolas directive relating to safety in merchant shipping. In a statement by MFD, owners of the Express Samina passenger ferry which sank last Tuesday off the Cycladic resort island of Paros, the company stated that of its 74 vessels, only 14 require adjustments in order to meet the requirements. The company said the Samina complied with the regulations. MFD said that adjustments were scheduled for eight of these ships before they were placed on other routes at the start of 2001. "Due to the urgent transport needs resulting from the general immobilisation of passenger ships, our firm is working rapidly to ensure requirements are met on four vessels," the statement read. The Express Santorini, Express Aris, Express Artemis and Express Apollon were all due to begin operating again by this week, while the 10 remaining vessels will be confined to port while adjustments are made. They will not begin operating until the start of 2001.
Bomb explodes outside offices of Minoan Flying Dolphins A bomb exploded in front of the offices of the Minoan Flying Dolphins shipping company in the early hours of Sunday morning, causing minor damage. The homemade explosive device, consisting of two gas canisters, went off at 2:35 a.m., breaking windows and causing slight damage to the interior of the office. Firemen were quick to extinguish the fire, which also burnt the tent of a nearby kiosk. It was the second bomb attack against the sector of shipping companies in a week. A similar homemade device exploded last week outside the offices of the Ship owners Federation of Northern Greece, causing material damage. Thessaloniki security police are investigating both the incidents. They had linked the first bomb attack to the sinking of the "Express Samina" off the island of Paros, which cost the lives of at least 79 people.
SUNKEN FERRYS OWNERS AND INSPECTOR CHARGED Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD), the owners of the Express Samina ferry boat that sank on September 26 and claimed 76 lives, have been charged with complicity in the issuance of a false certificate of seaworthiness, while the company already faces criminal charges for exposing the doomed ferry's passengers to danger. In addition to MFD, ship inspector George Katsafados has also been charged with issuing a false certificate of seaworthiness, issued minutes before the ferry set sail for Paros. Minoan Flying Dolphins is Greece's biggest coastal shipping firm which enjoys a near monopoly on the Cyclades routes. The ferry's inspection was conducted after accusations by the vessel's former engineer, Anastassios Sorokas, that the Samina Express was in a dangerous state due to mechanical problems. The ferry captain, Vassilis Yiannakis, was also charged yesterday in connection with Mr. Sorokas' claims. He will be prosecuted for allegedly falsifying the ship's papers to state that the engineer, who was subsequently sacked, was not on board at a time the prosecutor believes that he was, and for sailing without an engineer after Mr. Sorokas' dismissal. Meanwhile, divers have already collected valuable videotaped evidence from inside and outside the ship, about 40 meters below the sea's surface.
Minoan Lines offices firebombed A makeshift firebomb exploded early Friday morning outside the Piraeus offices of the parent company tied to the "Express Samina" passenger ferry, which sank off Paros last week, killing almost 80 people. The bomb, consisting of a plastic can filled with four liters of gasoline and a more intricate detonating device than the ones normally recovered from such attacks, was placed outside the ticketing offices of Minoan Lines, whose subsidiary -- Minoan Flying Dolphin -- operated the sunken ferry. Minor damages but no injuries were reported, police said. According to reports, an anonymous caller to the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia" claimed the attack on behalf of the previously unknown group "social liberation movement".
Europarliament plenum ratifies resolution on "Express Samina" shipwreck The European Parliament plenum ratified a joint resolution on the Greek ferry "Express Samina", which sank off the island of Paros after hitting a reef last week with the loss of 79 lives, on Thursday which stresses the importance it attributes to the European Commission's three proposals, particularly those concerning the safety of passenger ships, shipping registers and port control by the state. The resolution was proposed by the five parliamentary groups of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists, Liberals, Greens and the United Left. It calls on the European Commission to examine the possibility of shortening the timetable set out in directive 98/18, concerning the specifications and safety rules since the implementation of the proposals will not take place before 2009. The resolution also urges the Commission to reconsider exceptions granted to member-states in general, including the exceptions for Greece regarding the age of ships and cabotage. It further stresses the importance of fully implementing rules concerning the compulsory training of crews on safety measures and handling emergencies. Papoutsis: 'New day for Greek merchant shipping': A new day begins today for Greece's merchant shipping," merchant marine minister Christos Papoutsis said Thursday, in the aftermath of a ferry shipwreck that killed at least 79 people and government pledges for more stringent safety controls in the sector. Papoutsis made the statement before a Cabinet meeting which was to focus, inter alia, on the coastal shipping sector and the September 26 sinking of the "Express Samina" in a gale off the coast of Paros after it scraped a rocky outcropping. Development deputy minister Milena Apostolaki told reporters as she entered the Cabinet meeting that the government was fully aware of the magnitude of the tragedy and its responsibilities, and was going ahead with solutions for coastal shipping. Meanwhile, PASOK MP and former justice minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos said Thursday he had asked the Athens Bar Association to provide free legal counsel for the relatives of the shipwreck victims. Commenting on media criticism to reports that high-profile PASOK cadre and former deputy foreign minister Christos Rokofyllos would be acting as defense counsel for Minoan Flying Dolphins -- the Express Samina owners -- vice-president Pantelis Sfinias, Yiannopoulos said that "these are myths that the media are once again concerning themselves with", adding that "every Greek citizen has the right to (legal) defense". Greek ferry captains demand 'vote of confidence' from Papoutsis, threaten action: During a meeting in Piraeus on Thursday, the captains of Greece's passenger ships warned that they would bring Greece's ferry fleet to a standstill unless their tarnished reputations, much battered after the disastrous 'Express Samina' shipwreck, were restored. Gathered aboard the "Patmos" in Piraeus port, the Greek skippers said they would hand in their sailing papers unless Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis had not publicly proclaimed his faith in Greek captains by midday on Friday. Union president Evangelos Kouzilos claimed that the treatment of the captain and the officers on the 'Express Samina' by the authorities during their arrest was insulting to the body as a whole. "They drag all Greek captains through the mire when they put handcuffs on ["Express Samina" Captain Vassilis] Yiannakis and the cadet. The cadet was a student at the Syros Naval Academy and his cell shared a wall with the academy! This sort of behavior is unacceptable. We do not want privileged treatment. We just want the real guilty parties to be found," he said. Also present at the meeting were Coast Guard Chief Andreas Syrigos and the Piraeus Port Harbor Master. In statements afterward, Syrigos expressed bitterness that after the shipwreck some people had 'reduced everything in the shipping sector to one level." He said that Coast Guard officers had been transferred out of the commercial fleet inspection service simply to appease public outrage over the accident, without any specific charges against them. If anything that incriminated them surfaced during questioning, he added, they would be made an example of. With regard to a report of mechanical problems on the 'Express Samina' made by a former engineer, Syrigos said that the report had been vague and nothing turned up during the inspection. Ferry banned from sailing after surprise inspection: A car/passenger ferry was barred from sailing after a surprise inspection revealed a problem with its rudder, the merchant marine ministry said Thursday. The ministry said that Piraeus harbor authorities conducted a surprise inspection on the ferry "Alkaios" Thursday night, acting on an anonymous tip-off, shortly before the vessel was due to set sail for the island of Chios and Mytilene. It said the ferry was barred from sailing after a malfunction in the pump of one of the rudders was discovered. The inspection was due to resume Thursday with a trial sailing.
Series of government measures announced to modernize passenger-shipping The cabinet decided on Thursday on a series of measures to modernize domestic passenger shipping, during a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, among them the lifting of cabotage, allowing free competition in domestic passenger shipping, by 2002. It was also announced that the age limit on passenger ships serving domestic routes would be gradually reduced to 30 years, compared to the current 35 years, while an internal affairs service will be established at the merchant marine ministry. The port authority corps will be reinforced; a general secretariat of ports will be established while a network of volunteers to work on rescue efforts and pollution incidents will be created. The measures were announced following a tragic shipwreck in the Aegean last week, which claimed the lives of 79 people. After the cabinet meeting, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, during a press conference, said that with these measures the government achieves its basic aim, which is the safety of passengers and the upgrading of services rendered by domestic passenger shipping companies. The measures, announced by Papoutsis, include intensifying checks of ships and the effectiveness of those checks and reviewing the way the sector operates. He also said that the measures included the reinforcement and renewal of the personnel of the Merchant Shipping Inspectorate, mandating a two-year rotational system, whereby the personnel of the inspectorate will be allowed only a two-year term at the end of which inspectors will be transferred to other state services. He added that one section of the inspectorate would be decentralized to regional ports. Papoutsis noted that a committee would be established to check on the inspectorate and the shipping registry, while it would review complaints against services rendered and will be composed of sector specialists and the general inspector of the port authority corps. He said that all authorized private contractors, checking on fire safety and rescue systems of ships, would be reviewed, while a special section would be established within the inspectorate to make spot checks of ships. Papoutsis also said that an internal affairs service will be established at the merchant marine ministry, modeled after the one established at the public order ministry, to investigate corruption cases brought against officers and ministry officials. Measures also include stricter regulations concerning the mandatory training of crews on safety measures and dealing with emergencies. Specifically, crews would strictly adhere to their training and exercise programs on the use of rescue equipment, while the government would mandate specific regulations for outfits with night signals and regulations on the passenger-shipping companies' obligation to inform passengers. He also announced an end to cabotage beginning in 2002, adding that the bill mandating the lifting of the ban on foreign ships serving routes in Greece would be tabled in Parliament by November. He said that there would be no routes with monopoly conditions, while manning of ships would be regulated by the existing rules of Greece as the state of reception of workers. Papoutsis added that the bill would mandate the establishment of a regulatory commission to regulate the new market, in order to ensure the respect of fair play in competition among shipping companies. Papoutsis, however, noted that in the short term the government would enforce measures to improve conditions in passenger shipping, as the new regulations would be coming into force. He said that representatives of local governments of regions serviced by passenger shipping would be included in the decision making process for the seaworthiness of ships, while efforts would be made for improvements in sailors' working conditions and the upgrading of their training and education. He added that port facilities around the country funded by the second community support framework would be completed and further funds would be allocated from the third second community support framework.
Greece dumps old ferries Greece is to scrap more than 100 ageing ferries from business following a series of recent shipping disasters in which a total of 80 people perished. The government announced the decision to withdraw the ships by the year 2006, after a cabinet meeting held in the capital Athens. The government also agreed to bring forward the liberalisation of the shipping industry to 2002. Criminal investigations have been opened into the September disasters which occured within days of each other. Liberalisation A government spokesman, Dimistris Reppas, said foreign companies would now be able to bid for domestic ferry services two years earlier than planned. "The government has a steady target of improving commercial shipping policy- people's safety, services and the creation of a modern coastal shipping industry," Mr Reppas told reporters. "Within November the government will submit a bill to liberalise sea transport. We aim the liberalisation to begin in 2002," he said. The age limit of ships would also be gradually lowered to 30 years by 2006 and a committee set up to oversee quality control for ships. The government also plans to upgrade seamen's education and boost rescue programmes. Safety guidelines The Express Samina ferry sank last week with more than 500 passengers aboard when it hit a well-charted islet just before reaching the Aegean island of Paros. Captain Vassilis Yannakis testified he was unwell and taking a nap shortly before the ferry struck the islet. His number two, Tassos Psychoyos, said bad weather prevented him from steering away from the rocks. Another Greek vessel, the Zeus III - which was carrying more than 30 American tourists - ran aground and sank off the Aegean island of Naxos last Saturday night, killing one elderly American. In a third incident, early last Friday, the ferry Express Artemis ran aground near the port of Naxos with 1,081 passengers on board. The Greek authorities have banned more than 60 passenger ships and ferries from sailing for failing to comply with EU safety guidelines.
FINAL DECISIONS ON THE MODERNIZATION OF THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING Final decisions on the modernization of the Greek coastal shipping were reached in the cabinet meeting in Athens today held under prime minister Kostas Simitis. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the protectionism status in the Greek shipping will end in 2002, while there will be no exclusive exploitation of any sea line by a specific shipping company. Also, the maximum age limit for the withdrawal of the ships will gradually drop from 35 to 30 years, while the ship inspections will intensify and an internal affairs agency will be established in the merchant marine ministry. Responding to questions concerning the personnel changes in the ships' inspection agency, Mr. Reppas stated that they were made after a decision to reduce the service term of the ship inspectors to no more than 2 years. The Greek government spokesman also stated that there will be an initiative for the financial support of those who survived the "Samina" tragedy.
THE FAIR COMPETITION COMMITTEE REQUESTED DETAILS ON THE BUYOUT OF SHIPS The ministry of development fair competition committee had requested information on the buyout of ships conducted by the Minoan Sea Lines since February. According to a statement issued by the committee, it was examining whether the law on fair competition was violated and if there is a monopoly situation in the Greek coastal shipping. The Minoan Sea Lines referred the committee to the Minoan Flying Dolphins which denied that its acts or deals were in violation of the law on fair competition. The committee has the files of the two companies with the buyouts they have made since July and in cooperation with the merchant marine ministry will proceed with the evaluation of the two companies before issuing a decision.
Report on passenger shipping proposes deregulation earlier than 2002 A report by a Personalities Committee, which examined guidelines to govern the new institutional framework for passenger shipping, delivered to Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Tuesday proposes that deregulation of passenger shipping should be made feasible earlier than October 2002. The report proposes that before each scheduling period starts, the country's shipping companies will be called on to show interest in scheduling of a one year duration, with the possibility of an extension. Whichever EU shipping company having ships registered under the flag of a member-state may show interest freely, provided it meets certain conditions. Among others, the conditions rule that a company should not have outstanding debts to the state, it should not be in the process of bankruptcy or liquidation and its ships should not be over 35 years old and when they reach this age they should be withdrawn from service.
PM Simitis to chair cabinet meeting on Thursday on shipping issues Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday night held a meeting with Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis who told the premier that a new page in the history of shipping was in the making. Papoutsis described his two-hour meeting with Simitis at the Maximos Mansion as constructive and said it concerned preparations for the proposals on shipping which will be presented at the cabinet meeting on Thursday. Papoutsis also briefed Simitis on the meetings he had with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg on Monday and on the common position taken regarding the safety of shipping in Europe. The minister said that issues, which will be discussed at the cabinet, will include the continuing investigations into the cause of the shipwreck of the "Express Samina" off Paros island last week and on the market deregulation of shipping and the modernization of sea transport Reppas rules out Parliamentary inquiry into shipwreck, resignation of Papoutsis: he government is not considering the appointment of a parliamentary committee to investigate the 'Express Samina' shipwreck, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Tuesday and urged everyone to wait for the results of a judicial inquiry currently underway. The spokesman accused main opposition New Democracy of "fabricating guilty parties" and pinning the most serious charges on them, "showing extreme irresponsibility." Such serious issues should not be dealt with this sort of petty party politics, he said. In response to other questions, Reppas said that no party had requested an emergency debate in Parliament and he did not rule out a meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and former merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis. Regarding Soumakis, Reppas said he had been "a good minister," and he added that there was no question of current Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis resigning. He also ruled out the possibility of the government asking for a vote of confidence in Parliament, saying that it already had this as well as the recently expressed trust of the Greek people. Officers of shipwrecked "Samina" imprisoned pending trial: The captain and Lt. captain of the fateful "Express Samina" passenger ferry that sank two miles of the port of central Aegean island of Paros claiming the lives of 79 persons, were imprisoned pending their trial for manslaughter. Meanwhile, sailor at the helm at the time of the shipwreck Papagiotis Kasdaglis and Cadet George Patilas, who was on duty at the bridge, both also accused of manslaughter, were released on bail of one million drachmas. According to reports, Capt. Vassilis Yiannakis and Lt. Capt. Anastasios Psyhogios gave conflicting accounts of their actions during the shipwreck, as well as conditions following the collision of the ferry with the "Dyo Portes" rock islet. "I am very sorry, from the depths of my heart," Kasdaglis said following his release. The 'Express Samina' sunk last Tuesday night after colliding into a rocky outcrop just outside the island of Paros, causing the death of at least 79 people. Paros port, municipality to set up beacon to mark site of tragic shipwreck: The Paros Port Authority and municipality are to set up a floating beacon above the spot where the passenger/car ferry 'Express Samina' went down a week ago as a reminder of the tragic shipwreck, it was announced on Tuesday. Paros Mayor Costas Argouzis said that the beacon would be put into place immediately after diving crews looking for missing passengers and the crews pumping fuel out of the sunken ferry had finished their work. According to sources at the Port Authority, all the fuel will have been removed over the next three days. The search for the missing passengers continues meanwhile. One of these, according to the latest reports from relatives, may possibly have been sleeping in her cabin in the center of the ship at the time of the shipwreck and diving teams intend to concentrate their search in that area. An Albanian reported missing by his fellow travelers, meanwhile, might possibly have been swept away by the sea since they say he jumped off the ship with them.
CONFLICTING TESTIMONIES BY THE "SAMINA" CAPTAIN AND SHIP'S MATE "Samina" ship's mate Tasos Psychogios completed his testimony today and according to information, it was different from the testimony of captain Vasilis Yiannakis regarding the time at which the captain was informed of the imminent collision. The ship's mate maintains that he informed the captain 3 miles before reaching the rocky islet, while captain Yiannakis maintains that this took place just a mile away from the scene of the tragedy. Psychogios maintains that he was among the last to abandon the ship and helped in the rescue of passengers, while rumors say that the captain had left the ship much earlier.
REVEALING VIDEO OF SHIPWRECK TAKEN BY DIVERS A video taken in the shipwrecked "Express Samina" by divers, with the aim of helping specialists determine what caused the tragedy, has provided valuable information concerning the state of the ship. The diver's video is said to provide key information to shedding light on the incident, as it will facilitate the investigation of various elements of the ship's structure and emergency life-saving measures. Meanwhile, the president of the Piraeus Steel Syndicate, Iordanis Pountides, revealed that the work carried out on the vessel, at a cost of 1.4 billion drachmas, was mainly in refurbishing and equipping the cabins and other passenger comforts, whereas "only maintenance and repair works were carried out on the machinery". According to reports, only 4-5% of the aforementioned cost was spent on safety systems and the ship's machinery, whereas 70% of the money was used to refurbish the accomodation and passenger services offered on board the ship.
"SAMINA" CAPTAIN FINISHES TESTIFYING The captain of the shipwrecked "Express Samina" has finished testifying before a court in Syros and the testimony of ship deputy, Tasos Psychogios began yesterday evening. The ship deputy's testimony is expected to be lengthy, as he was on the "Samina" deck at the time of the collision. The cadet and the sailor are also due to testify today. The law states that all testimonies must be completed by midnight on Thursday, in order for authorities to decide whether or not the accused should be held temporarily.
Captain of shipwrecked "Zeus III" arraigned The captain of yacht "Zeus III" that hit a riff and sank a mile and a half off the port of the central Aegean island of Naxos claiming the life of one person, was arraigned on Tuesday on charges of manslaughter. The yacht Zeus III hit a rock and split in two and sank, claiming the life of one of the 31 passengers and seven crewmembers, in the early hours of Sunday. Port authority vessels and local fishermen rescued the passengers and crewmembers. However, on the way to the island's healthcare center, United States national Richard Ihde, 82, died. The yacht transported 27 US nationals, one German and three Greeks, along with the seven-crew members.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE GREEK SAILORS' ASSOCIATION Greek Sailors' Association president Giorgos Dalakogiorgos in a press conference he gave in Athens today stated that all those directly or indirectly responsible for the "Samina" shipwreck must be brought to justice. He accused merchant marine ministry officials of illegal transactions with the shipping company Minoan Flying Dolphins regarding the inspections made on the tragic ship to determine if it meets the necessary safety standards and stated that they should also be brought to justice apart from the ship's captain, the ship's mate and the sailors. He also spoke of a Minoan Flying Dolphins monopoly which in the past two years became a giant under the government's protection. In the press conference were present low ranking "Samina" crew members who gave their own testimony of the tragic accident and stated that they have not been called yet to give a formal deposition.
55 PASSENGER SHIPS HAVE BEEN CONFINED TO PORT Fifty five passenger ships have been confined to port after a decision by the Greek ministry of merchant marine as they did not observe the necessary safety standards. According to the announcement by the ministry of merchant marine, the ships that have complied with the fire safety standards are "Dionisios Solomos", "Ionis", "Kefalonia", "Protephs" and "Express Skopelitis". As it was made known in the island of Crete, the Minoan Lines and ANEK Lines each will put on a ship that will make two runs daily in order to replace the ships that have been withdrawn after the merchant marine ministry decision.
Culture minister Theodoros Pangalos on Monday endorsed abolition of a number of ministries, including the merchant marine ministry. Replying to press questions concerning the issue of setting up an Olympics ministry in view of Athens' hosting of the 2004 Games, Pangalos said: "In my opinion, there are too many ministries today. Only about half are necessary, and one of the ministries I would propose should be abolished is the merchant marine ministry," said Pangalos, a former foreign minister. He made the comments to reporters after a meeting with visiting European Commissioner for education and culture Viviane Reding, with whom Pangalos discussed the proposed designation of the year 2004 -- when Athens hosts the Olympic Games -- as the European Year of Athletics. They also discussed cultural matters to be dealt with at the next EU summit in Nice in early December.
Merchant Marine Ministry says Greece has complied fully with commitments emanating from EU law Greece has complied fully with commitments emanating from European Union law concerning shipping security, the Merchant Marine Ministry announced on Monday in connection with a letter by EU official Lamoureaux. The announcement, concerning information requested by the European Commission on conditions by which the ferry "Express Samina" was sailing, said the ship had been provided with a security certificate anticipated by law as of July 20, 2000, while the certificate had been issued following inspections carried out in all sectors. During repairs carried out, the ship had been upgraded regarding stability, in accordance with the EU directive. Clauses concerning the ISM security code had also been applied on the ship. The ferry "Express Samina" sank off the island of Paros last Tuesday night and to date 79 bodies have been recovered, while a search by frogmen to find more is still underway. EU directives for shipping in place before Samina shipwreck, Reppas says: The "Express Samina" shipwreck had nothing to do with the enforcement of the European Union directive on passenger shipping fire safety regulations at this time, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Monday. He said that Greece was obliged to enforce the Union directive beginning on Oct. 1 and the merchant marine ministry issued a reminder on Sept. 1, thus ships that did not comply remained at port. Reppas also announced that Prime Minister Costas Simitis would receive Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Tuesday. He accused of unacceptable behavior all those who claimed that Minoan Lines part-owner Sfinias extend his hospitality at his home in Mykonos to former Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis, adding that the former minister contributed decisively to the renewal of the Greek passenger fleet and all rumors aim at minimizing his contribution. Reppas, also, said that Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos' proposal to abolish the merchant marine ministry was not acceptable as this ministry is very important and its existence is mandated by Greece's geography. Search continues for missing passengers, containment of pollution: Efforts to locate and retrieve those still missing from the 'Express Samina' shipwreck last week were continuing on Monday, with 18 divers scouring the area around the shipwreck. The passenger/car ferry rammed into a rocky islet just off Paros on Tuesday night and sank within 20 minutes. Merchant Marine ministry sources said that 79 bodies had been recovered by Monday morning, of which 78 had been identified, while Paraskevi Triantafyllou, 60, and Albanian national Akis Skantera had been reported as still missing by their relatives. At the same time, a private crew was busy pumping the fuel out of the sunken ferry to prevent the pollution of the marine environment. According to Coast Guard officer Nikos Economakis, the ship's compartments had been fully contained and there was no leakage, while he was under orders to check the ship thoroughly but quickly. Meanwhile, Paros Mayor Costas Argouzis demanded that ship-owners Minoan Flying Dolphins make arrangements to raise the sunken ferry from the seabed, warning that if they didn't "the people of Paros will take different steps." Karamanlis asks Simitis for party-leader parliamentary debate on shipwreck and shipping policy: New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis has written to Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the main opposition's party headquarters said on Monday, asking that the 'Express Samina' shipwreck and the government's passenger shipping policies be discussed by the leaders of the political parties in Parliament. Karamanlis has apparently asked that the premier himself initiate the discussion, in accordance with parliamentary regulations, since the opposition parties can raise only one issue for debate per day until June because of the constitutional review. ND estimates that the prime minister will not refuse the request, given the gravity of the issue, while they said that the debate would be independent of a discussion on Wednesday afternoon between the premier and ND's leader during "Prime Minister's question time". Opposition parties question government's role in 'Express Samina' disaster in Parliament: The opposition parties blamed both the government and owners Minoan Flying Dolphins for the shipwreck of the 'Express Samina' on Monday, through questions put in Parliament. The passenger/car ferry 'Express Samina' sank after ramming into the "Dyo Portes" rocky islet off Paros last Tuesday night, causing the death of at least 79 passengers and possibly more. The accident has highlighted the very poor safety standards on many of the passenger ferries plying Aegean routes, 65 of which have since been forbidden from sailing since the shipwreck, as well as the virtual monopoly that Minoan Flying Dolphins has developed in the Aegean over the past few years by taking advantage of lax regulations in passenger shipping. New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis questioned Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis' "curt" statement that, following the shipwreck, radical changes were needed in passenger shipping that would ensure safety on the seas. He also claimed that lack of coordination between the Merchant Marine and Defense ministries had prevented the use of specially designed "Super Puma" helicopters in the crucial rescue mission. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga, meanwhile, asked why the merchant marine ministry had not taken measures to deal with the ship's poor seaworthiness, why the government had not organized an immediate rescue operation and also what measures the government planned to take in order to protect human lives from the avarice of shipping companies and for the retirement of "rust bucket" ships. Finally, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said that "private interests and state stereotypes" showed disregard for safety in public transport and asked Prime Minister Costas Simitis why his government had encouraged and accepted the creation of a monopoly in passenger shipping in the Aegean. The Coalition leader also demanded to know why former merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis had consented to the demands by Greek shippers that their ships be exempt from increased measures for the radical overhaul of old ships, why the government had failed over the course of many years to stamp out corruption in the inspection services for the commercial fleet and the Greek shipping register and whether anyone intended to take political responsibility for the weaknesses shown by the state machinery in either preventing or dealing with accidents and disasters.
Papoutsis says government will submit law on deregulation of coastal sea transport Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, addressing the European Union Council of Transport Ministers on Monday, said the Greek government's policy is aimed at modernizing the country's coastal shipping fleet and that "it will soon be submitting a law on the deregulation of coastal sea transport." At the end of the meeting, which focused on shipping safety, Papoutsis said that at its start the French EU Presidency, the European Commission and all member-states expressed their solidarity and sincere condolences over the sea tragedy which occurred in Greece late Tuesday night off the coast of the island of Paros and cost the life of at least 79 persons. Papoutsis referred to the tragedy and expressed the Greek government's will and commitment to have ample light shed on the causes of the tragedy and to have responsibilities apportioned. He said that despite the fact that in all EU member-states there is no limit for the age of ships, Greece will maintain the 35-year age limit, adding that in the event of a change it will only be in the direction of decreasing it. Papoutsis proposed the start of a dialogue at European level on determining an age limit for passenger ships active in Europe and said this limit could also be determined below 35 years. He also briefed ministers on the implementation of directive 98/18 on upgrading safety and fire protection systems on ships, saying that from the start the Greek authorities had insisted on the strict implementation of the directive. Referring to the Greek coastal shipping fleet, Papoutsis said, "out of 500 ships 431 have complied. A ban on sailings was imposed on the 69 ships failing to comply by the final date of October 1, 2000, anticipated by national and EU legislation, and they were given a 20-day deadline to comply with the provisions contained in directive 98/18." Papoutsis underlined that should they fail to comply, their expediency license will be lifted. Focusing on issues listed in the agenda, Papoutsis underlined the need to strengthen control of ships in ports and the need to increase relevant funds, as well as necessary staff, to enable national authorities to reliably meet the provisions of the directive on ship controls in ports, as was agreed at the council. Commenting on the issue of harmonizing legislation on the working conditions and rights of workers, Papoutsis said the governments of member-states and the European Commission should guarantee an improvement in seamen's working conditions. In another development, Papoutsis delivered a letter to Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio on Monday in connection with a letter sent by EU official Francois Lamoureux to the Greek authorities. In his letter to the Spanish commissioner, Papoutsis indirectly expresses the Greek government's annoyance over the fact that the letter was made public before it was formally received and at a time of particular sensitivity and grief for the Greek people. He also mentioned that "the letter's tone and character gave an excuse for unsubstantiated generalizations concerning the safety of the coastal shipping fleet." According to well-informed sources, the Spanish commissioner expressed her regret to Papoutsis over the letter being leaked to the Greek and international press.
THE GREEK FISHERMEN ARE ON A STRIKE The Greek fishermen launched a strike today protesting against the oil price increases. According to a decision reached by their union, the fishing boats will be immobilized and the fishermen will block the country's fish-piers indefinitely. The protesters demand fuel subsidies and tax reductions in order to cut the production cost.
65 ships suspended Citing slack fire safety measures, merchant marine ministry prevents ageingvessels from sailing IN A dramatic move, the government last night suspended the licences of 65 ageing Greek passenger ferries and cruise ships, as the death toll from the Express Samina shipwreck rose to 76 with the discovery of two more bodies by divers. The list includes ferries that service Greece's busiest routes and is set to shake up the coastal shipping industry. Christos Papoutsis, the embattled merchant marine minister, chaired marathon talks to review licences for ships more than 27 years of age. "No exceptions will be made... Unless all the (safety) documents are submitted, the ships will be prevented from sailing," he said. The move follows intense criticism of the government over Greece's passenger fleet, the oldest in the European Union, and failure to save Samina passengers who were stranded less than two miles from the popular Cycladic resort island of Paros. The ship sank on Tuesday night after hitting a well-marked islet off Paros. The ban, effective from midnight last night, gives ferry operators 20 days to implement appropriate safety measures. In a telephone interview with Alpha's evening newscast, Papoutsis yesterday denied that the measure was taken in reaction to the Express Samina tragedy. He stressed that passenger shipping companies had been warned two years ago, and received fresh warnings as recently as September 1. "We must not disparage Greek shipping," said Papoutsis. "These ships are not being withdrawn. Shipping regulations are divided into five categories, depending on the length of a trip. They are safe ships, but they must comply with the regulations [of their respective category]," he said. On Friday the European Commission called on Greece to provide details of the Express Samina sinking within a month. In a letter from Francois Lamoureux, the EU general secretary for transport, the Commission asked that Greek authorities observe all EU maritime regulations. Greece's ferries are exempt from EU regulations which require the withdrawal of ferries after 27 years of service. In this country, ships may operate for 35 years, on condition that stringent safety checks are regularly carried out. "We have asked Greek authorities to provide answers within one month," EU Commission spokesman Gilles Gantelet said in Brussels yesterday. The merchant marine ministry said five people are now officially listed missing - four Greeks and one Albanian. But confusion over the number of passengers aboard the ferry has brought strong criticism against the government and the ship's owner, Minoan Flying Dolphins. "Doesn't anyone have the decency to resign?" asked conservative opposition leader Costas Karamanlis. The ferry's captain Vassilis Yiannakis, his first officer and two other crew members - who have been charged with reckless manslaughter - are scheduled to testify today before an investigating magistrate on the nearby island of Syros. Authorities said the two bodies discovered inside the wreck yesterday were identified as the ferry's purser, Yiannis Margonis, and another Greek man, George Hatzis. Divers were probing the 103.5-metre-long ferry for a second day, and still have much of the vessel to search. Eight bodies were found inside the ship on Friday, all wearing life jackets. Measures were also being taken to prevent leakage of the 162 tons of fuel and lubricants on the vessel, which is located at a depth of 40 metres. Paros islanders buried their dead and held services at sea yesterday, with Orthodox priests standing on fishing boats and chanting Byzantine hymns, while children threw wreaths into the Aegean. More than 10 million people travel on many of the ageing ferry boats around Greece every year. The ministry's general secretary George Halvatzoglou yesterday said Greece had the highest age limit on passenger ferries within the EU. FOLLOWING is a list of 65 Greek passenger/car ferries and cruise ships which are being suspended from operation as of midnight tonight, because they failed fire safety inspections carried out by the merchant marine ministry: Minoan Lines Daidalos (C)* - Erotokritos (C) - El Greco - King Minos - Nikos Kazantzakis Minoan Flying Dolphins Express Haroula - Limnos (C) - Express Adonis - Express Athina - Express Apollon - Express Artemis - Express Afroditi - Express Dionysos - Express Ermis - Express Milos - Exprress Naias - Express Olympia - Express Pinelopi - Express Santo rini ANEK Kriti 1 (C) - Kriti 2 (C) - Candia - Lato - Lissos - Rethymnon - Aptera - Myrtidiotissa Royal Olympic Cruises World Renaissance (C) Wavelord Navigation Co Athens Express (C) - Polloux (C) Sea Link Care SA Aegean Spirit LANE Ierapetra L Cycladic Cruises NE Alexander D Pantelis NE Alkyon P SAOS ANES Arsini Thalassies Ekdromes NE Afroditi Express Agios Georgios NE Georgios Express Veronis San Lain NE Delos Express Dimitris Moiras & Sian. E Dimitrios Miras GA Ferries Dimitroula - Rodanthis Diogenis VEN EPE Diogenis B ANME Zakynthos Dionysos Solomos ANE Zakynthos Zakynthos 1 Mikres Kyklades NE Express Skopelitis NEL Theofilos - Taxiarchis - Mytilinis Blue Ferries Superferry 2 - Ionian Sun - Kefalonia DANE Rodos - Patmos Aktoploiki Aegion NE Hioni - Captain Stamatis - Psara D Tyrogalas & Sia Ionis - Protefs Lefko Thalassopouli NE Ifigenia-Anna NE Cruises Pantelaios Naxos Star ANE Kalymnou Nisos Kalymnos Voiai NE Nisos Kythira Samiakes Cruises Samos Sky Laoumtzis Stefamar Kirki
Greek Sailors' Association president Giorgos Dalakogiorgos in a press conference he gave in Athens today stated that all those directly or indirectly responsible for the "Samina" shipwreck must be brought to justice. He accused merchant marine ministry officials of illegal transactions with the shipping company Minoan Flying Dolphins regarding the inspections made on the tragic ship to determine if it meets the necessary safety standards and stated that they should also be brought to justice apart from the ship's captain, the ship's mate and the sailors. He also spoke of a Minoan Flying Dolphins monopoly which in the past two years became a giant under the government's protection.In the press conference were present low ranking "Samina" crew members who gave their own testimony of the tragic accident and stated that they have not been called yet to give a formal deposition.
Ageing Greek ferries banned from sailing The Greek government has suspended the licences of 65 ageing Greek passenger ferries and cruise ships, as the death toll from the Express Samina shipwreck rose to 76 with the discovery of two more bodies by divers. The list includes ferries that service Greece's busiest routes and is set to shake up the local coastal shipping industry. Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis chaired talks to review licences for ships more than 27 years of age. "No exceptions will be made... Unless all the (safety) documents are submitted, the ships will be prevented from sailing," he said. The move follows intense criticism of the government over Greece's passenger fleet, the oldest in the European Union, and failure to save Samina passengers who were stranded less than two miles from the popular Cycladic resort island of Paros. The ship sank on Tuesday night after hitting a well-marked islet off Paros. The ban, effective from midnight last night, gives ferry operators 20 days to implement appropriate safety measures. In a telephone interview with Alpha's evening newscast, Papoutsis denied that the measure was taken in reaction to the Express Samina tragedy. He stressed that passenger shipping companies had been warned two years ago, and received fresh warnings as recently as September 1. "We must not disparage Greek shipping," said Papoutsis. "These ships are not being withdrawn. Shipping regulations are divided into five categories, depending on the length of a trip. They are safe ships, but they must comply with the regulations [of their respective category]". On Friday the European Commission called on Greece to provide details of the Express Samina sinking within a month. In a letter from Francois Lamoureux, the EU general secretary for transport, the Commission asked that Greek authorities observe all EU maritime regulations. Greece's ferries are exempt from EU regulations which require the withdrawal of ferries after 27 years of service. In this country, ships may operate for 35 years, on condition that stringent safety checks are regularly carried out. "We have asked Greek authorities to provide answers within one month," EU Commission spokesman Gilles Gantelet said in Brussels yesterday. The merchant marine ministry said five people are now officially listed missing - four Greeks and one Albanian. But confusion over the number of passengers aboard the ferry has brought strong criticism against the government and the ship's owner, Minoan Flying Dolphins. "Doesn't anyone have the decency to resign?" asked conservative opposition leader Costas Karamanlis. The ferry's captain Vassilis Yiannakis, his first officer and two other crew members - who have been charged with reckless manslaughter - are scheduled to testify today before an investigating magistrate on the nearby island of Syros. Authorities said the two bodies discovered inside the wreck yesterday were identified as the ferry's purser, Yiannis Margonis, and another Greek man, George Hatzis. Divers were probing the 103.5-metre-long ferry for a second day, and still have much of the vessel to search. Eight bodies were found inside the ship on Friday, all wearing life jackets. Measures were also being taken to prevent leakage of the 162 tons of fuel and lubricants on the vessel, which is located at a depth of 40 metres. Paros islanders buried their dead and held services at sea yesterday, with Orthodox priests standing on fishing boats and chanting Byzantine hymns, while children threw wreaths into the Aegean. More than 10 million people travel on many of the ageing ferry boats around Greece every year. The ministry's general secretary George Halvatzoglou yesterday said Greece had the highest age limit on passenger ferries within the EU.
F/B "Express Samina" With public opinion still in a state of shock following last Tuesday's sinking of the Express Samina, another passenger vessel, Zeus 3, with 31 passengers and a 7 member crew, ran aground off the port of Naxos shortly after midnight on Saturday night and sank. The Merchant Marine Ministry made all necessary moves and the 31 passengers and 7 members of the crew on board the ship were rescued. However, 82 year-old American tourist Aid Raiheart, died of a heart attack while being transferred to the Naxos Medical Centre. Fishing boats from the islands of Naxos and Paros as well as warships, participating in the military exercise "Parmenion" took part in the rescue operation. The port authorities of Naxos are looking into the causes of the sea accident, while the captain and the 3 officers of the "Express Samina " continue with their defense statements at the court of Syros, as they are facing criminal charges. Furthermore, the prosecutor of Syros has filed a suit against the ship-owning company Minoan Flying Dolphins, on charges of having exposed passengers to danger. Meanwhile, the American ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns thanked the authorities and the people who assisted in the rescue operations. In the meantime cargo-ship "Captain Spyros", ran aground in the open sea off the islet Psara. However, the lives of the the crew-members, who were all Ukranians , were not endangered. There are no reports on the causes of the accident. Following the recovery of three more bodies yest from the Express Samina ferryboat, the number of victims has risen to 79, while 2 more passengers are believed missing. Coast guard divers will continue the search in the garage and cabins of the ship. On Saturday evening, the Merchant Marine Ministry announced a ban on the sailing of 64 passenger vessels on domestic routes, not fulfilling European Union safety regulations. The shipowning companies have 20 days in which to make the vessels seaworthy, otherwise the ships' operating permits will be cancelled. The Merchant Marine Ministry announced 20 temporary sailing schedules from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina for ships fulfilling all international standards. Meanwhile, the European Union Transport and Merchant Marine Ministers Council will meet in Luxembourg on Monday, with the participation of Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, to discuss safety in shipping and protection of the marine environment. On the island of Paros a memorial service was officiated yesterday in the church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani for the victims of the Express Samina.
LUXEMBOURG Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, addressing the European Union Council of Transport Ministers on Monday, said the Greek government's policy is aimed at modernising the country's coastal shipping fleet and that "it will soon be submitting a law on the deregulation of passenger shipping." At the end of the meeting, which focused on shipping safety, Papoutsis said that at its start the French EU Presidency, the European Commission and all member-states expressed their solidarity and sincere condolences over the sea tragedy which occurred in Greece late Tuesday night off the coast of the island of Paros and cost the life of at least 79 persons. Papoutsis referred to the tragedy and expressed the Greek government's will and commitment to have ample light shed on the causes of the tragedy and to have responsibilities apportioned.
F/B "Express Samina" The death toll from the ferry shipwreck off the Aegean island of Paros rose to 79 on Sunday, as divers recovered three more bodies at noon, the port authority of Paros said. The 103-metre 4,407-ton "Express Samina" sank late Tuesday in a gale some two miles off Paros after it scraped a rocky outcropping. The survivors number 456, while an estimated 10 persons still remain missing. Meanwhile, the merchant marine ministry announced that 65 other passenger ships serving domestic routes would cease to sail, as they do not fulfill the necessary safety requirements, according to the European Union regulations. These ships will have to undergo the necessary modernization of safety and rescue systems by Oct. 20, otherwise they would forefeet their licenses to serve their routes. In efforts to serve the routes, in the meantime, extraordinary sailing of other ships will be scheduled the ministry said. In a related development, the European Union Council of Transport and Merchant Marine Ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting in Luxembourg on Monday to examine shipping safety in the Union, in light of the Paros shipwreck. Merchant marine minister announces changes to domestic shipping: Changes in domestic passenger shipping, including the freeing of monopoly routes in the Aegean, announced Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis in an interview to the Sunday edition of Athens daily Eleftherotypia. Papoutsis said that through a special bill the status of domestic monopoly routes in passenger shipping would be abolished allowing for free competition, adding that the bill will include stricter regulations for the condition of ships. He also said that stricter regulations would be mandated for the training of sailors serving on passenger ships, along with the upgrade of their training and education. Papoutsis also noted that the program of improvements for Greek port infrastructure will speed up and the port authority will be reinforced with more personnel and modern equipment. Regarding his standing, following the "Express Samina" sinking of the central Aegean island of Paros, he said that a possible resignation would have been the easy way out, adding that he chose the hard way. Meanwhile, unknown assailants set fire to the entrance of the Athens offices of Minoan Lines operator of "Express Samina". Prosecutor charges Minoan Flying Dolphins over Paros wreckage: Public prosecutor Dimitris Dadinopoulos on Sunday brought charges against the Minoan Flying Dolphins company over the sinking of the "Express Samina" ferry off Paros island on Tuesday night and which cost the lives of 79 people. The charges concern "the placing in danger of the passengers." According to the prosecutor, who took testimony from the four-crew members accused in the incident, and by survivors, the charges were brought on the basis of evidence to date and reports in the Greek press.
M/Y "Zeus III" sinks near island of Naxos The yacht Zeus III hit a rock and split in two and sank about a mile and a half off the port of the central Aegean Island of Naxos, claiming the life of one of the 31 passengers and seven crewmembers, in the early hours of Sunday. All passengers and crewmembers were rescued by port authority vessels and local fishermen, on their way, however, to the island's healthcare center, United States national Richard Ihde, 82, died. The yacht transported 27 US nationals, one German and three Greeks, along with the seven crewmembers. Burns comments on sinking in 'Zeus III' ship: US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns referred to the sinking late Saturday night of the "Zeus III" ship off the coast of the island of Naxos in a press release issued by the US Embassy on Sunday. "On behalf of the United States government and the passengers of the Zeus III, I would like to take this opportunity to mourn the loss of Richard Ihde, an American citizen from Cleveland, Ohio, who died during the rescue effort early this morning. Mr. Ihde was traveling with his wife, and we offer her and her family our sincere condolences," Burns said. "I would like to thank several parties for their swift and generous assistance. As you know, most of the passengers were American citizens. They and we at the Embassy would like to thank the people of Naxos, who helped the port authorities to organize the rescue effort and who provided the necessary blankets, shoes, clothes, and food when the passengers came ashore. "The Greek Coast Guard Commander in Chief, Andreas Sirigos, offered excellent support throughout the rescue effort and afterward, and the staff at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked close with the Embassy to stay up to date on the tragedy. The Greek military moved quickly to provide a helicopter to fly the one deceased passenger and his wife to Athens," the ambassador concluded. Alternate FM expresses condolences over shipwrecks: Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi expressed her condolences on Sunday over the shipwreck near the central Aegean island of Naxos that claimed the life of a United States citizen, In a telegram to the US embassy in Athens, Papazoi underlined the sorrow of the Greek people for both tragic incidents at Naxos and Paros. She also said that these were the only accidents on Greek seas for decades, although over ten million visitors come to the Greek islands each year, adding that these latest incidents did not compose the image of domestic passenger shipping.
European Commission requests clarifications over cause of "Express Samina" shipwreck The European Commission requested clarifications from the Greek government on the reasons that caused the shipwreck of "Express Samina". In a letter by Commission Director General on Energy and Transport Francois Lamoureux, addressed to the Greek Permanent Representative Ambassador Aristidis Agathoklis, dated Sept. 28, the Commission also requested clarifications on the observance of safety regulations. "The European Commission is obliged to certify the strict adherence to the community directives regarding the safety of sea transport," Lamoureux said. Lamoureux requested of the Greek government to provide, within October, certificates of safety inspections for "Express Samina", a copy of the certificate of the ship's seaworthiness according to relevant Union regulations, the exact number of passengers aboard the ship as well as information relevant to the search and rescue operations, all pursuant to relevant regulations issued from 1994 to 1999. The director also requested information on the checks made by Greek authorities to verify the correct operation of the central electronic ticketing system and measures Greek authorities took to secure the observance of all other relevant articles of Union regulations. HATTA blames Minoan Flying Dolphins 'virtual monopoly' of Aegean ferry routes for shipwreck: The Hellenic Association of Tourist and Travel Agents (HATTA) said on Friday that it had long expressed its concern over Minoan Flying Dolphins virtual monopoly of the coastal ferry routes in the Aegean, while it accused the state of "merely standing and watching a monopoly develop without acting." Minoan Flying Dolphins are the owners of the fatal "Express Samina" passenger/car ferry. HATTA's announcement concluded by saying that "in a shipwreck there are not only the physical perpetrators but also the moral instigators...We hope that this time the latter will also be found and made to bear the consequences." It also questions the fact that no one in a position of responsibility has thought fit to resign over the terrible accident. Karamanlis to table question to PM in Parliament on shipwreck: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis will table a question to Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Parliament on Monday regarding the "Express Samina" ferry which sank off the Aegean island of Paros late Tuesday night and cost the lives of at least 74 people - a question in which he will attribute responsibilities to the government. In his question, Karamanlis notes "the well-founded indications as to the existence of enormous responsibilities by the shipping company which, through favoritism by the government, has almost a monopoly in our coastal shipping." He also raises "enormous questions as to the readiness and the manner with which the state machinery reacted." Constantopoulos says responsibilities of shipwreck tragedy should not be covered up: Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said in a written statement on Friday the seeking of penal responsibilities by justice on the tragedy of the ferry "Express Samina" should not become an alibi for covering up the overall problems and deeper causes concerning the present unacceptable condition of coastal shipping. "The people have had their fill of categorical assurances at the time of tragic events which are forgotten afterwards and impunity, unaccountability and covering up triumph. Words are more than enough afterwards, while the political will to handle the distortions and morbid situations which are dominant in public life is absent beforehand," he said. French president, prime minister express condolences: French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday sent a message to the Greek government expressing his condolences for the tragedy of the "Express Samina" shipwreck, which "shocked the French authorities and the public opinion", a press release issued by the embassy of France on Friday noted. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin spoke on the telephone with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday expressing the condolences of the French government for the tragedy, the press release added.
F/B " Express Artemis" Ferry runs aground off Naxos, passengers all safe: A ferry ran aground in shallows off the eastern Aegean island of Naxos in gale winds late Thursday, just 48 hours after another ferry belonging to the same company scraped a rocky outcrop-ping off nearby Paros island in a gale and sank, killing at least 69 people. All 1,086 passengers and crewmembers of the "Express Artemis" were safe, Naxos port officials said Friday. The car/passenger ferry "Express Artemis" developed a general blackout at 11:45 Thursday night just inside the Paros harbor, and lighting supplied by the ship's auxiliary generator, which automatically kicked in. The ship was dragged some 300 meters by 9-beaufort gale-force winds and ran aground in the shallows inside the harbor. Eyewitness accounts said the ship's captain Dimitris Pouris immediately lowered the anchor to steady the ship, which was just 100 meters from a pier, and the merchant marine ministry's Operations Room and the Harbor Corps were immediately alerted. The Express Artemis, which belongs to the Minoan Flying Dolphins subsidiary Hellas Ferries -- owners of the shipwrecked Express Samina - -- was carrying out a route encompassing Santorini, Anafi, Folegandros, Ios, Naxos, Paros and Piraeus with 1,086 passengers and crewmembers on board. "We saw the ship go dead and all the lights go off...The wind was tossing it about like and those of us on the pier were terrified. We would have had another shipwreck if the ferry hadn't run aground and the captain hadn't lowered the anchor," eyewitness Elias Dendrinos, a former captain and local ticket agent told ANA. About two hours later the grounded ferry was pulled to shore with the assistance of the ferry Poseidon Express. The passengers of the grounded vessel were transferred to the "Blue Star Ithaki" and "Marina", which had been ordered by the merchant marine ministry to change course and head for Naxos to take on the "Express Artemis'" passengers.
The death toll from the ferry shipwreck off the Aegean island of Paros rose to 76 on Saturday, after divers recovered two more bodies at noon, the Harbour Corps said. The 103-metre 4,407-ton "Express Samina" sank late Tuesday in a gale some two miles off Paros after it scraped a rocky outcropping. The survivors number 456, while an estimated 10 persons still remain missing.
End of Cabotage? Cabinet to decide on lifting of cabotage on Thursday, gov't spokesman says The cabinet may decide to lift cabotage, allowing free competition in domestic passenger shipping, during its meeting on Thursday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Friday. He added that Prime Minister Costas Simitis has taken a stance in public, stressing that this announcement was not intended to force decisions by the cabinet. Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis would table his proposals, on Thursday, for the new legal framework of passenger and cargo shipping to the cabinet, which would then decide on the issue, Reppas said. He said that the timing of the accident tragically coincided with the completion of work on the proposals for Greek shipping by relevant committees. Reppas noted that the premier and the government extended their full confidence in Papoutsis, who had undertaken initiatives to set in place a legal framework up to par to the demands of society.
F/B " Express Artemis" The captain of the "Samina Express" ferry admitted today that he was asleep in his cabin when the vessel crashed into the islet off the island of Paros, causing the tragic shipwreck. Vasilis Yiannakis, claimed he was not feeling well and left his deputy in charge. In turn, the deputy abandoned his duties at the wheel to attend to personal matters in the passenger lounge, leaving a younger and less experienced crew member, George Patilas, in charge of the ship. The ship was travelling at a speed of 18 nautical miles, two nautical miles away from Paros. Strong winds made the task of the young crew member left in charge even harder and he reported losing control of the ship. The Samina, once Mr Patilas lost control of the steering wheel, veered towards the rocky islet. In his statement, Mr Yiannakis claimed that once he reached the deck, he "called the ship's mechanic, but the vessel started tipping over, so I set off the emergency signal. I ordered the mechanic to stop the engines completely when he told me the right hand side of the ship had cracked, but it was too late". "Passengers on the deck were in a state of panic and the ship tipped over in a matter of minutes, yet continued to travel at a speed of 8 miles per hour. In its panic, the crew did not have time to reduce the speed and the ship started sinking. We managed to throw four life boats into the sea and these were immediately filled by desperate passengers. Some emergency measures failed to operate. At 10.30pm the ship disappeared into the turbulent waves".
F/B " Express Artemis" A ferry ran aground in shallows off the eastern Aegean island of Naxos in gale winds late Thursday, just 48 hours after another ferry belonging to the same company scraped a rocky outcropping off nearby Paros island in a gale and sank, killing at least 69 people. All 1,086 passengers and crew members of the "Express Artemis" were safe, Naxos port officials said Friday.
F/B "Express Samina" - Prime minister calls for light to be shed on shipwreck tragedy The government is resolved to uncover the reasons behind the Express Samina shipwreck, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said, speaking at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said. He said that the premier stated to the cabinet that it is the obligation and the commitment of the government to shed light on this unthinkable tragedy, adding that blame will be assigned to all those responsible, however high they may be. The death toll from the ferry shipwreck off Paros island reached 65, while 54 of the victims have been identified. Rescue operations continued for a second day in effort to recover survivors of the "Express Samina" ferry that sank late Tuesday after scraping a rocky outcropping some two miles off the Aegean resort island. The judicial procedures are progressing already, the five members of the crew of the fateful ship under arrest in Paros will be transferred to Syros (the administrative center of the central Aegean island complex), while in Piraeus an investigation is expected to begin, in order to find any responsibilities of the ship owners, if there are any, Hytiris said. The premier will observe the whole process from close up and will do everything possible for the case to be cleared up, however much effort may be needed to overturn behaviors, attitudes, however many reactions there may be, Hytiris noted. He added that Simitis stated that the basic goal of the government is to achieve a high degree of safety in transport, not only at sea, but also on land and in the air. Toward this reason the next cabinet meeting will be dedicated to the shipping in its entirety. "The boat did not hit the rock because it was not seaworthy, it obviously was on a wrong course," Hytiris said, adding that "in such tragedies one can see the greatness of humanity, as well as the misery of flight". He stressed the premier's order for an in-depth investigation that will include the ship owners, who may be hiding behind insurance contracts, and blames will be assigned. "We will not back down from this position". He said that there was no delay in the mobilization of the state agencies in responding to the disaster, "especially if the weather conditions are taken into account," adding that Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis was present from the very beginning and coordinated all efforts and was in contact with the prime minister. Hytiris recognized the contribution of the local fishermen, "which was so great that we did not mourn more victims", adding that in recognition the government would subsidies them to cover any damages to their vessels. The acting government spokesman said that the newly-acquired all weather "Super Puma" rescue helicopters were purchased at the initiative of the present government, even though the opposition parties did not agree with the purchase, but were not used in this case, because their crews have not yet completed their training, which only now entered its final phase. Responding to questions regarding the ship's age and relevant seaworthiness, Hytiris said that the European Union has not mandated age limits for ships, but Greece has mandated the limit of 35 years of age, adding that the ship owners wish to do away with all limitations. Finally, Hytiris said that the final count of victims may be higher as there are fears that people have been trapped in the ship as it sank, adding that there were children and soldiers on board who did not have to pay tickets and thus were not on record. On his part, Papoutsis, during a two-hour press conference, said that there were criminal errors, stressing that the justice system will now be responsible to assign blame. "My political sensitivity and responsibility force me to identify with the effort to shed light and to punish those responsible however high their standing may be. I will intensify my efforts for a modern passenger shipping," Papoutsis said. "Greece is the only country of the European Union that has set an age limit for ships. As long as I am the minister, this limit will remain at 35 years, it will not increase. Criminal errors have been made, errors that justice will uncover... The human mind can not understand how a ship fell on a rock that has a light visible for miles," he said "All those who have evidence against the port authority should submit them to the prosecutor. I will be the first person to request the harshest of penalties," he concluded. Karamanlis accuses government of covering up facts and transferring responsibilities elsewhere: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis accused the government on Thursday of trying to cover up facts and transferring responsibilities elsewhere in connection with the sinking of the ferry "Express Samina" off the island of Paros on Tuesday night. "Following the new irresponsible absence of the Prime Minister in the face of such a serious event, as well as the provocative statements by the government spokesman and the Merchant Marine minister who are trying to cover up facts and transfer responsibilities, I am obliged to criticize the government now," Karamanlis said. Karamanlis said the government was exclusively responsible for necessary specifications not being observed, which safeguard the lives of passengers and guarantees the security of shipping. He said it was also responsible for necessary checks not being carried out and the inadequate training of crews. "The government is accountable to the conscience of society for the failure to coordinate and utilize even the insufficient means of handling accidents at sea and saving passengers," Karamanlis added. Karamanlis said that had it not been to the sense of duty of the few port officials, the heroic fishermen of Paros and of soldiers on board the ship the victims would have been even more. The opposition leader chaired two meetings of party officials during the day, while reports said he decided to make statements after what the government spokesman said during his press briefing and the press conference by Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis. In reply to Karamanlis, acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said that "Karamanlis, in exploiting human pain, and as he is accustomed to anyway, makes recourse to superficial and irresponsible statements against the government and the prime minister. His stance today constitutes an act of political selfishness." Death toll from shipwreck up to 65, seven missing, preliminary inquiry begun: At least 65 people lost their lives when the passenger/car ferry 'Express Samina' collided with a rocky outcrop two nautical miles off the Aegean island of Paros, according to the latest information released by Greek authorities on Thursday afternoon, while a further seven were still missing. According to the records of the ship's owners, Hellas Ferries, and a sworn affidavit by the ship's bursar, there were 463 passengers and 61 crewmembers on board the shipwrecked "Express Samina" and only 452 had so far been rescued. Sixty-five were confirmed dead and the search was continuing for a further seven, authorities said, while 62 of the bodies recovered had been identified so far, including that of Norwegian national Elia Hensen Jul. Meanwhile, a second attempt by divers to search the sunken ferry at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday was frustrated by strong winds and rough seas. A team of 15 deep-sea divers and the eight-man private team of Costas Nizamis set out in the morning with the tug "Neorio Orfeus Syros" to the point where the "Express Samina" went down in order to locate bodies trapped within its hull. Meanwhile, Hellas Ferries had already sent a team of experts to Paros to examine ways in which to suction off the ferry's fuel load to avoid pollution of the island's coastline and surrounding sea. The first steps in a judicial inquiry into the accident were also completed on Thursday, with public prosecutor Dimitris Dadinopoulos from Athens ending a preliminary investigation and the first exploratory examinations of witnesses, survivors and crewmembers by midday. Dadinopoulos said he would be sending his reports to the Merchant Marine ministry, the public prosecutors in charge of the case and Prime Minister Costas Simitis by Friday at the latest. Third engineer on board the "Express Samina" attributes the shipwreck to human error: Vassilis Haralambis, the third engineer on board the ferry "Express Samina" which sank off the island of Paros on Tuesday night, on Thursday attributed the tragedy to human error and said "the rocks don't come onto the ship. The ship goes onto the rocks." Haralambis, who was on duty in the ship's engine room at the time of the accident, rejected any talk of engine failure, saying "two days before (the shipwreck) two checks had been carried out because someone had mentioned that a problem existed concerning Samina's seaworthiness. "No problem existed regarding the engines. As far as I am concerned what happened was due purely to human error. The rocks don't come onto the ship. The ship goes onto the rocks," he said. "Our engines were in full gear and had a speed of 18-19 miles and we hit the islet with this speed. I saw the water flooding the engine room. The rift was big for so much water to be coming in from the starboard side. I immediately took a flashlight in my hands and ran up to the deck. I saw all in a panic. However, I also saw Captain Vassilis Yiannakis giving orders to the crew and other officers for the boats and the life jackets. I heard him speaking to passengers and telling them what to do. I cannot say anything about the seamen and the crew, because they were all running to save themselves. I don't know who was to blame, but when I am left with my thoughts I think that the first mate who was on duty on the bridge made the big mistake. The human mistake," Haralambis added. Papazoi expresses condolences to families of victims, says full truth must be uncovered: Alternate Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi, also a PASOK deputy for the Cyclades islands, said on Thursday that the causes of the unexplained maritime tragedy off Paros, where 65 people lost their lives, would have to be fully uncovered. "We have to seek out those responsible for the criminal negligence that led to the sinking of the 'Express Samina' and they must be made an example of," she said. Expressing her condolences to the families of the victims, many of them islanders, and to the family of Paros harbor deputy chief Dimitris Malamas who suffered a heart-attack while trying to coordinate rescue efforts, she said that congratulations were due to the fishermen of Paros and Antiparos who defied the stormy weather and took their boats out to help rescue survivors. PASOK Euro-deputies also sent a message of condolence. German ambassador calls attention to efforts of islanders in rescue operations: German Ambassador to Athens Karl-Heinz Albert Kuhna on Thursday expressed his sorrow over the "Express Samina" shipwreck near the Aegean island of Paros, making special note of the efforts of the island's residents to rescue passengers from the ship. Kuhna said that there were 18 German nationals on the ferry, among them a delegation of 12 medical doctors, who were especially impressed by the "ability of the local residents to improvise on the spot, yielding great results". He added that he would travel to Paros to thank the islanders personally for their selfless efforts in rescuing the passengers of the "Express Samina". Messages of condolence over ferry tragedy continue to flock in: Messages of condolence continued to pour into Greece Thursday over the "Express Samina" shipwreck in which at least 63 people were killed and an estimated 14 were still unaccounted for after the ferry scraped a rocky outcropping two nautical miles off of the island of Paros in the Aegean. Queen Elizabeth of Britain, in a message to President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos said: "Prince Philip and I were distressed to hear of the sinking of the ferry Express Samina, which has caused the loss of so many people. We send our deepest sympathy to you and the families of those who have lost their lives". Israeli President Moshe Katsav, in a message to Stephanopoulos, said: "In this moment of grief, please allow me to express my deepest condolences to you for the overwhelming loss of human life in the naval tragedy off the coast of Paros. While Greece stands in mourning, my thoughts and the thoughts of the Israeli people are with the relatives of the victims in this terrible hour".
F/B "Express Samina" sinks off Paros island, fifty nine confirmed deaths The passenger ship "Express Samina" ran aground and sank near the islet of Portes off the island of Paros at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The ship was carrying approximately 500 passengers and according to conflicting reports a number of people jumped into the sea before the ship sank. Reports at press time at 01:45 on Wednesday said that about 150 passengers arrived safely on the island of Paros either on lifeboats or by managing to swim ashore. Gale force winds were prevailing in the area at the time of the accident, making rescue operations highly difficult. A number of tug boats and trawlers rushed to the aid of the passenger ship. The "Express Samina" had departed at 5 p.m. from Piraeus for Paros, Naxos, Ikaria, Samos and Patmos. The vessel was reported to have sustained a crack and had tilted on one side, before eventually sinking.
F/B "Express Samina" At least 63 people drown in Aegean shipwreck; rescue operations continue The bodies of 63 people, drowned when a ferry rammed into a rocky outcropping in stormy weather and sank two miles off Paros, a central Aegean island, on Tuesday, were recovered by early Wednesday evening, the islands port authority said. The tragedy took place at approximately 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday as the 3,783-ton, 110-meter ferry "Express Samina" ran aground and sank near the islet of Portes off the island of Paros, at the central Aegean. Port authority sources announced that 452 were rescued of a yet undetermined number of passengers and crew, while about 20 of those rescued, were injured but none was in critical condition and nine persons were still missing. Among those already rescued there were 72 foreign nationals, and among those drowned was a Norwegian national, Ilia Heisten Juul, 51. According to reports the number of those killed was expected to climb higher, as hopes of finding survivors diminish as time passes, because of the weather conditions in the region. This was the worst accident on Greek seas, since 1965, when the ferry Iraklion sank off the Aegean island of Falkonera killing 217 people. Paros Port Authority Vice-Commander Dimitrios Malamas, 40, should be counted among the victims of the tragedy, as he died on duty of heart failure, during his efforts to coordinate the search and rescue efforts. Paros residents were the first to set out with their commercial fishing boats to rescue passengers risking their lives and livelihoods, as Hellenic Air force C130s lighted the skies with flares, but the residents of Paros did not stop at the rescue as they also gave their best in hospitality to the victims. Four British naval vessels already in the region were also instrumental in minimizing the numbers of those drowned. Initially it was reported that the ship carried approximately 500 passengers and crew, but that number was amended as reports came in of passengers purchasing tickets later on board and not via the central databank system. Gale force winds were prevailing in the area at the time of the accident, making rescue operations highly difficult. The "Express Samina" had departed at 5 p.m. from Piraeus for Paros, Naxos, Ikaria, Samos and Patmos. Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos announced in Parliament on Wednesday that there would be a full judicial inquiry into the causes of the shipwreck and that charges would be pressed against those responsible, as well as the ship's owners. Stathopoulos, expressing the deep grief and shock of the government, said that the accident was not only a tragedy but that there was also strong evidence of "criminal negligence". Earlier, Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis had said that a preliminary inquiry was being carried out by the public prosecutor on Syros and by authorities on Paros and in Piraeus port. As he emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis at noon, Stathopoulos described the accident as a "criminal act". "It is hard to understand how a ship could run into a lit beacon," he said and said he had spoken with the Supreme Court public prosecutor Panagiotis Dimopoulos and instructed him to immediately begin an inquiry. Dimopoulos has ordered the Syros Appeals Court prosecutor and other judicial officials to go to Paros immediately and carry out an exhaustive investigation into the causes of the accident. Meanwhile, five crewmembers, including captain Vassilis Yannakis and second-in-command Antonis Psychogios, were being held by prosecutor's order pending investigation in the causes of the shipwreck. Reactions: President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos expressed "immense grief" over the 'Express Samina' shipwreck and his "deepest sympathy" to the survivors of the maritime tragedy and the relatives of the victims, adding his wish that the death toll would not rise further. Prime Minister Simitis also expressed deep grief at the death of so many people, but declined further comment "while the massive search and rescue operation is still underway", adding that he had ordered that the causes of the accident "be fully investigated and responsibilities attributed". Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis expressed condolences to the families of the victims and congratulated all those taking part in the rescue operation. European Commission President Romano Prodi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and his hope that search and rescue efforts will conclude soon. According to a press release issued by the Commission, Prodi and Transport Com-missioner Loyola de Palacio expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and to the Greek government. "This tragedy touches all us Europeans and I want to express my solidarity to the families of the victims," Palacio said. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer conveyed his condolences over the tragic shipwreck of the ferry "Express Samina" to his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos, according to a press release from the Turkish president's office. "I convey personally and also on behalf of the Turkish people, my condolences and sincere feelings. I was greatly saddened by the shipwreck that occurred in the Aegean yesterday and which cost the lives of so many people," Sezer said in his message. "Mr. President, rest assured that the Turkish people stand by the Greek people and share their pain," he concluded. British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a message to his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis expressing his condolences over the "terrible loss of life" in the sinking of the ferry 'Express Samina', a press release of the British Embassy in Athens noted. "I was immensely saddened to hear of the terrible loss of life from the sinking of the ferry Express Samina, off Paros," Blair said in his message. Pope John Pall II sent a message expressing his condolences for the victims. In a message to the Greek foreign ministry, Vatican Foreign Minister Cardinal Angelo Sontano noted that "when the Holy Father was informed of the tragic accident of a ship off the coast of Greece, he sympathized through prayer with the suffering and pain of the families who lost loved ones". Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos ex-pressed his deepest condolences in a telegram sent to Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Vartholomeos was informed of the tragedy during his visit to Bahrain, and upon his return to the Phanar, addressed the telegram of condolences to Simitis. Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos expressed his condolences for the victims of the "Express Samina" shipwreck, making special mention of those missing. "Great is our worry over the fate of the passengers and crew of the fateful ship still missing," the message read. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sent a message of condolences to his Greek counterpart George Papandreou, ac-cording to a report by the Turkish "Anatolian" news agency. "We share the grief of the Greek people and I wish to express my sincere condolences to you and the relatives of the victims," Cem said, adding that "I assure you that if we can do something to relieve the pain of the neighboring Greek people we shall do so." Government spokesman: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that "plenty of light will be shed on the reasons behind the tragedy of Paros. We reassure everyone that there will be an in-depth and persistent investigation in every direction in order to hold all those responsible for the tragedy." He added that the state rescue mechanisms mobilized immediately and were under the orders of Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis and the leader-ship of the Port Authority, who immediately arrived at the rescue operation facilities of the ministry. Reppas said that there should be no political exploitation of the incident and the pain of the relatives of those dead or missing, adding that such a tragedy has never happened before in Greece. He concluded noting that the ship had received certificates of seaworthiness, and that issue will be under special investigation. Minoan Lines president sees human negligence as the key factor in shipwreck: Criminal human negligence caused the "Express Samina" accident, Costas Kliromonos president of Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD), owner of the vessel, said on Wednesday. "We can not blame the company, nor the crew or the officers or the structure of the company or the company's controls of its ships for the 'blindness' of one of the ship's officer, who was on the bridge and could not see a lighted rock, but rather he goes head and falls on it," Klironomos said. He also said that the company had the vessel checked twice, following the report of an "Express Samina" engineer who was fired a week ago, which doubted the ship's seaworthiness, adding that he was let go for tardiness and not for his negative report. Klironomos, who is also the president of Minoan Lines, said that although the major MFD shareholder was Minoan Lines the two companies have separate administrations, organizational structures and business identities. Sailor steering the "Express Samina" recounts incident: Gale force winds and lack of visibility caused the shipwreck of the "Express Samina" ferry, according to the sailor who was on the bridge of the vessel, manning the steering wheel of the ship at the time of the accident. The sailor, Panagiotis Kasdaglis, said that the ship was on the correct course, according to maps, the compass and the rest of the navigational equipment. He said that while he and the chief mate saw the light house, on the rocky islet of 'Dio Portes' from a distance of 20 to 30 meters, "the navigational equipment indicated that we were on the correct course. Nothing could have stopped the impact. I did not have a chance to do anything, not one in a million. In any case our speed was up to 18 knots. "The chief mate grabbed the steering wheel immediately, but at that point the loud noise of the impact was heard. We were in a black out condition and the lights went out. We were hit at the right side of the ship and the rupture must have been large, as the ship sank completely in 20 minutes," Kasdaglis said. "The crew did what it could ... there was panic and people started to slide into the sea and those who could made it to the boats. I can not explain how we reached the rocks," he said. "Usually, we pass by the 'Dio Portes' (or two doors the name of the rock which the ship hit) at a distance of 300, 400 or 500 meters, depending on the weather conditions at sea. We saw the light (on the rock) from afar and suddenly we saw it right in front of us," he said. "I can not assign this accident to human error. One thing is certain we were on course, according to the compass, which must have been right, there were two of them, not just one. We could not reverse, nor stop the engines. The moment we saw the rocks the impact came. The engines went out. The ship began sinking," he concluded. Political parties extend their condolences and sympathy to the families of the "Express Samina" victims: Political parties extended their condolences to the families of the "Express Samina" shipwreck's victims in announcements on Wednesday. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in an announcement said "it is another huge crime for which the government and Merchant Marine Ministry are absolutely responsible for turning a blind eye to ship-owners' free hand regarding the ship in question. The profits of ship owners' capital prevailed here as well at the expense of human life." Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos made a written announcement expressing his grief and extending his sympathy to the families of the shipwreck's victims. "It has been revealed dramatically that the problems of protecting common and day-to-day security in our lives are many, big and open," he said. Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, in his own writ-ten announcement, extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the "inexcusable tragedy in Paros." Tsovolas said "the bright exception to the state apparatus's inertia and confusion was the stance of local administration and the citizens of Paros, as well as of passengers on the ship." Reactions to naval tragedy by Parliament and political parties: The Greek Parliament observed a minute's silence on Wednesday in honor of the victims of the naval tragedy and postponed its workings until the next day. Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis had earlier expressed the body's anguish over the dozens of dead and missing, and conveyed its deepest sorrow to the relatives of the victims. Prime Minister Costas Simitis ordered all PASOK party activities to be postponed out of respect for the tragedy, including Thursday's meeting of the Executive Bureau to discuss the statements made by Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos, which has been put off until October 5, and a meeting of the PASOK Central Committee on Friday and Saturday that will be held on October 6-7. The postponement of the latter meeting, meanwhile, pushes back a nationwide PASOK conference on health, which will now be held on November 3-4 in Thessaloniki. Main opposition New Democracy also announced that it was postponing a planned meeting of its Central Committee on Thursday to mark the tragedy and said it would be held October 7. Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, meanwhile, said the planned celebrations for Greece's Olympic medallists, scheduled for Tuesday, might well be postponed as a sign of grief for the victims of the tragedy, possibly for the next two months. Ship fully inspected, Piraeus port claims: Piraeus port officials said on Wednesday that the shipwrecked ferry "Express Samina" had been thoroughly inspected by three Coast Guard officers and one Merchant Marine ministry official on Tuesday before sailing and had been found seaworthy. Speaking to the press, Coast Guard Chief Captain Dam. Damianos, Piraeus Port Chief K. Kyrzakitsis and ship's captain Dim. Fokas claimed that a vessel's seaworthiness is not "directly correlated to its age limit and maintenance." According to the Coast Guard, the ship had begun plying its route on July 20 and all its live-saving gear was in functional condition. Regarding a report by the ship's first engineer A. Sorokos on September 21 that the ship had serious problems, the three officers said that two general inspections were immediately carried out and no one had noticed any problems. According to records, the newest part of the "Express Samina" was its name, the ship itself being nearly 35 years old. It first sailed in 1966 as the "Golden Vergina," along with the other 22 per cent of the Greek passenger ferry fleet that dates back to the 1960s. According to Merchant Marine ministry records, around two thirds of the 409 passenger ferries now plying the Greek sea routes are classed as old or very old, while only one third were built in the last 20 years. The Greek fleet currently has 88 passenger ships that were built between 1960-1969, 166 that were built between 1970-1979 and 155 built since 1980. Only 21 were built in the last decade.
F/B " Express Samina" The passenger ship "Express Samina" ran aground and sank near the islet of Portes off the island of Paros at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and according to unconfirmed reports, a high ranking port officer from Paros died of a heart attack upon hearing the news while another person was also said to have died of unknown reasons. The ship was carrying approximately 500 passengers and according to conflicting reports a number of people jumped into the sea before the ship sank. Reports at presss time at 01:45 on Wednesday said that about 150 passengers arrived safely on the island of Paros either on lifeboats or by managing to swim ashore.
Le Président de la Commission européenne Romano Prodi et la vice-présidente Loyola de Palacio présentent leurs vives condoléances aux familles des victimes et au gouvernement grec pour la tragédie qui s'est déroulée près de l'île de Paros dans les Cyclades, causant la mort de dizaines de passagers, auxquels s'ajoute un grand nombre de disparus. "Cette catastrophe nous touche tous en tant qu'européens et je tiens à marquer ma solidarité avec les familles des victimes", a déclaré Loyola de Palacio, en charge des Transports et de l'Energie. "Je crois que la sécurité maritime est une priorité absolue, que nous devons toujours avoir à l'esprit, à l'instar de la sécurité routière ou aérienne : l'ensemble de la politique des transports européenne doit viser la sécurité maximum pour tous", a-t- elle ajouté. La Commission espère que l'enquête officielle sur ce terrible accident aboutira rapidement et montrera si a été respectée la législation communautaire en vigueur. A ce titre, ses propositions d'amélioration de la directive sur les contrôles dans les ports, incluses dans le paquet maritime, adopté par la Commission en mars 2000, visent à renforcer cette législation en bannissant les navires inférieurs aux normes et en ciblant davantage les inspections sur les navires à risque (navires anciens, navires souvent immobilisés, établissement d'une liste noire, etc.). La sécurité maritime sera abordée par le Conseil européen de Biarritz les 13- 14 octobre 2000. Le rapport de la Commission au Conseil européen a été adopté aujourd'hui par la Commission.
Murder charges in ferry disaster The BBC now reports that multiple murder charges have been brought against the captain and four crew members of the ferry that sank Tuesday, killing at least 64 people.
Panathinaikos scores important win against Hamburg away Panathinaikos Athens scored an outstanding 1-0 victory away against Hamburg SV in a Group E match for the European soccer Champions League on Tuesday night. Georgios Nassiopoulos scored the golden goal in the 37th minute.
DRAFT BILL SUBMITTED ON REMOVAL OF SHIPWRECKS The Minister of Merchant Marine Christos Papoutsis has submitted a draft bill in Parliament concerning the removal of abandoned shipwrecks that litter Greek harbors, canals and straits and obstruct the passage of ships. According to the ministry, approximately 260 shipwrecks are rusting away, fully or partially submerged in water, polluting the sea with fuel and toxic chemicals. In the country's largest port of Piraeus alone, there are over fifty wrecks abandoned for years by shipowners. In most cases, the cost of raising or removing the wrecks could be much higher than the actual value of the vessels. According to the draft bill, state authorities will be able to act on behalf of shipowners who refuse to pay for the removal of their wrecks. Furthermore, shipping firms will be obliged to insure their vessels against the cost of being raised in case of shipwreck, as well as the cost of any damage that results from the abandoned wrecks.
Premier Cruise Lines NEW YORK - Premier Cruise Lines, which has been afflicted with a number of problems during the past few months, has been suspended from membership by the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL). ICCL, with offices in Washington, DC and London, represents the cruise lines in the regulatory and policy development process, international and domestic, and serves as an advocate for 17 passenger cruise lines that call on major ports in the US and abroad. An ICCL spokesperson declined to discuss the specific reason for the suspension, apart from saying that the line failed to meet the requirements of membership. Premier has been pressured financially: its ships consume a great deal more fuel than comparable newer vessels and fuel prices have risen sharply in recent months, making them expensive to operate in a very competitive market, according to analysts. The company had to cut almost 10 percent of its employees in June to save money. A number of unrelated but costly problems didn't make Premier's situation any better. In July Big Red Boat II left Rhode Island with its anchor dragging, which cut the power cables for much of Newport and Jamestown. In early August the same ship had to make an emergency call in Boston because of generator problems, with a contingent of passengers on board who were taking the trip as compensation for a previously cancelled voyage. Now a complaint has been filed by the US District Attorney in Boston, accusing a crew member on the Seabreeze of sexually assaulting a female passenger. The line's president, Bruce Nierenberg, has strongly denied rumours that Premier is in financial trouble.
Passengers on burning hydrofoil escape unhurt Sixty-nine passengers travelling aboard a hydrofoil which caught fire while sailing Greece's Argosaronic Gulf were safely evacuated from the vessel last week. No one was injured in the incident although a number of passengers jumped overboard once they discovered the hydrofoil was on fire. The remainder were transferred to another Minoan vessel. The flying dolphin, operated by Minoan Lines, had departed from Aegina. In a statement, Minoan Lines said that all passengers who had lost personal items would be fully compensated. The cause of the blaze is being investigated.
Ministry to issue new route permit The merchant marine ministry has announced it intends to issue a new sailing permit for car passenger ferries on the Corfu-Paxi-Lefkada-Ithaki-Kefalonia-Zakynthos route. Applicants must meet the sea transport department's requirements, namely:
Mega-yacht
The tiny Dodecanese island of Tilos has acquired its own ship, the Seat Star, which will link it with Rhodes and enable it to attract more tourists. The island's mayor Anastasios Aliferis, said that the case of Tilos proves that the government should not necessarily be criticised for ignoring the smaller islands. He rejected the idea that all other parties, except for island residents, are to blame for the problems the communities face. "This is what we set out to prove and I believe we succeeded
Body to study liberalisation of shipping sector A committee of experts will be set up in order to formulate an institutional framework for the liberalisation of the coastal shipping industry, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis recently announced. The body, which is to be created following dialogue with all parties concerned, will comprise entrepreneurs, representatives of local authorities, seamen and other groups. A deadline of two months has been set for the creation of the institutional framework. Papoutsis acknowledged a demand made by shipowners for a 10 percent increase in ticket prices but said this would be considered at a later date. Recent cutbacks in the number of ferry services and the issue of the price increase will be viewed with the government's economic policy in mind. Papoutsis reacted strongly towards a warning from Minoan Flying Dolphins that it would fly a foreign flag on one of its vessels which plies the Adriatic if the ministry continues to insist on a doubling in the size of crews on high-speed vessels.
Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis on Thursday stressed the need for passenger safety through the use of double crews by fast ferries, adding that passenger shippers, with the exception of one, have agreed to double crews, while there is no problem with conventional vessels. "It is exhausting for seamen to work continuously for 15 or 17 hours on fast ferries. We should safeguard safety. Many hours of work are inhuman and are an affront to our country," he said. "The companies, with the exception of one, have accepted double crews. I am not a company to enter the arena of competition. I am responsible for a ministry, which has the responsibility of defining rules of competition. It seems that competition is not liked very much and so some waves are being created since we are in a transitional phase," Papoutsis added. Commenting on double crews, the main opposition New Democracy party's spokesman responsible for shipping Yiannis Papathanasiou stressed the need for dialogue and the prevalence of a climate of goodwill to enable the problem to be resolved. He also criticized the government for failing to clarify the institutional environment in time and deregulate markets for the benefit of passengers and tourism.
Gerasimos Agoudimos, the major stakeholder in GA Ferries, directed barbs in various directions during a press conference last week concerning industry developments. He criticised Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis and the port authority for favourable treatment of Attica Enterprises, to the detriment of Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) and GA Ferries. He said MFD had been targeted in particular while he queried whether it was within EU plans to sell off the Greek passenger ferry industry. Agoudimos noted that Strintzis did not provide a service for isolated islands with its new Blue Star Ithaki but instead obtained a licence to ferry passengers from Rafina to Cycladic isles. He said that if, by September 30, Strintzis does not take up the services it had sought, then MFD will cease undertaking unprofitable routes. As for the issue of doubling the number of staff during peak periods, Agoudimos said this would not occur this year. As a result, he said, the number of scheduled departures had to decrease. Papoutsis responded by saying that the reduction in services only concerned one company, and more specifically, four high-speed passenger vessels. "What concerns us is the citizens, the passenger who wants to go on holiday after a year of hard work… He must not be piled onto the ship but be provided with a high quality of services and safety, in particular," he said. Papoutsis said it was inhumane to have staff on ships working 17- and 18-hour shifts as high-speed vessels did not have facilities allowing employees to rest. He said the boats operated continuously and such labour practices were a threat to health and safety. The dispute between his ministry and ferry lines concerned one single hour, he said. The government had sought an eight-hour shift plus two hours of overtime and one extra hour in the case of emergencies while ferry operators had demanded a total of 12 hours. On the other hand, MFD is considering whether to raise the Greek or EU flag on its new vessels. The company has forwarded a letter to Papoutsis and the port authority chairman concerning the problems being caused by the decision to reduce staff working hours to 10 hours per day.
Minoan Lines in Spain? Minoan Lines have said that they intend to deploy ships in protected Spanish waters in a move seen to mirror the aggressive and expansive stance of Superfast Ferries. An announcement is expected shortly. In the meantime the Genoa-Sestri yard of Fincantieri are making progress with the building of Minoan’s 29.5 knot sisters, the 214m, 37,000 gt Knossos Palace and Festos Palace each of 67,200 kW. A second pair of vessels, the Olympia Palace and Europa Palace will have the same principle dimensions with the exception of higher vehicle intake and deadweight capability. The vessels have a length/beam ratio of 7.24. These new vessels follow on from the Aretousa, Ikarus and Pasiphae of 1995, 1997 and 1998 respectively, built by Fosen Mek. Verksteder As of Norway.
Coastal shipping companies reacting to the government's decision for double crews will have reduced sailing schedules this year The Lesvos Shipping Company (NEL), abiding by a recent decision by Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis calling for double crews for fast ferries, has hired the necessary number of seamen. Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) and the Strintzis company, by contrast, have submitted programs to the ministry for ratification on Monday in which they reduce the frequency that ships sail particular routes. On the question of double crews for fast ferries, Papoutsis last Friday gave an extension for application of the decision until the end of June. Shipping companies are claiming that the cost of having double crews will be great. MFD's schedules awaiting ratification reduce the number of scheduled trips by eight, while Strintzis will reduce scheduled trips for the Cyclades islands by two.
DRACHMA BECOMES DIVISION OF SINGLE EU CURRENCY The historic agreement to include Greece into the Economic and Monetary Union will make the Greek national currency (drachma) a division of the single currency as of January 1, 2001, while its parity has already been fixed at 340.75 drachmas to the euro. The new euro bank notes will circulate simultaneously across Europe at the start of the following year. Greece - which failed euro qualification two years ago - will now join Germany, France, Italyy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Ireland and Luxembourg. Greece's state mint is already planning to begin printing euros later this year. The head-side of the euro's eight different coins - cents, or "lepta" in Greek - will be minted with different designs in each country. Local designs include an owl (ancient symbol of wisdom), Zeus, Greek ships and national heroes and statesmen Rigas Feraios, Ioannis Capodistrias and Eleftherios Venizelos. European Commission President Romano Prodi told a press conference in Athens Friday, that Greece's accession to the EMU will top the two-day European Union summit's agenda. Prodi underlined that Greece's nominal convergence will not only benefit citizens and the local economy but will have positive effects on the economy of Europe as a whole. Euro transactions will begin in Greece on January 1, 2001 and the new banknotes will be issued in 2002.
TWO GREEKS ARE AMONG THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD Two Greek billionaires, Spiros Latsis and Sokratis Kokkalis, are among the 200 richest people in the world, according to the US magazine "Forbes". Mr. Latsis is at the 98th place with a fortune of US$ 4.3 billion and Mr. Kokkalis is at the 170th place with US$ 2.7 billion. Microsoft founder Bill Gates continues to be the richest man in the world in spite of the fact that last year lost 1/3 of his US$ 60 billion personal fortune.
MOODYS UPGRADES GREECES CREDIT RATING In a move whose timing couldn't have been more appropriate, Moody's upgraded Greece's credit rating, noting that the Greek economy meets the convergence terms in line with the other eurozone countries. Moody's analyst Christine Lidow told the BBC's Greek service that Greece's accession to the EMU led to the adjustments. "Greece's certain accession to the EMU prompted us to proceed to the adjustment of the indices that concern Greece". According to the analyst, a series of adjustments, spanning three and a half years, have already been implemented in Greece, propelled by the rate of the country's economic development and the resulting improvement of its position in the international market. "The economy is operating far more productively than in the past, the inflation rate is at a very low level and, most importantly, there is a significant and stable economic development rate," she said.
Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis has proceeded with efforts to abolish the oligarchy in coastal shipping by freeing up the scheduling of services. Fast-track approval has been granted for 21 ships to undertake services. Papoutsis' decision has broken up Minoan Flying Dolphins' monopoly over the Argosaronic and clears the way for Attica Enterprises, via Strintzis Lines, to service Crete. Meanwhile, Minoan Lines has expressed apparent indifference towards competitor Strintzis Lines' decision to service the Corfu-Igoumenitsa-Patras-Iraklio line and the approval of permits for high-speed services in the Argosaronic Gulf. Minoan president Constantine Klironomos said that the Iraklio-Patras line had limited potential. He said permits had been approved for Minoan to operate four hydrofoils in the Argosaronic.
Greece's passenger shipping industry must be freed up before 2004 - the year when cabotage is due to be abolished, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis recently told reporters. He said that cabotage should be scrapped earlier as 2004, the year Athens will host the Olympic Games, is not the ideal time for such experiments. Papoutsis said that it would be to Greece's advantage if it could put a newly freed-up market through a test-run before the summer of 2004. He said the matter would be discussed with the competent bodies
Greece's tourism industry should anticipate a slowing in the rate of growth in arrivals from abroad to 7% this year following a larger-than-expected rise of 10% in 1999, the Research Institute for Tourism (ITEP) has forecast. Tourism entrepreneurs were buoyed by last year's significant boost in visitor numbers to around 12.5 million, considering that the Kosovo conflict was expected to keep tourists away from the region. And, as a report released by ITEP points out, popular resort islands in the south such as Crete and Rhodes benefited the most in 1999 while northern Greece experienced a drop in arrivals, particularly those by road, who faced access difficulties posed by the blocking off of roads due to the Yugoslav war. With Kosovo no longer a determining factor, ITEP foresees that tourists will return to resort areas such as Halkidiki this year while Crete, the Dodecanese, Ionian and eastern Aegean islands are likely to see a normalisation, or less spectacular rise in the levels of arrivals. Considering the surprising jump in the number of tourists from Germany, the UK and northern Europe in 1999, ITEP estimates that last year's favoured destinations will see a more conservative increase in arrivals this year, particularly in light of the fact that in some areas demand for rooms may outstrip supply during the peak months of July and August. Meanwhile northern Greece, the Peloponnese and Athens - whose major earthquake last September rattled potential visitors - should be welcoming back those who avoided both regions in 1999. Estimating that around 13.3 million travellers will visit Greece this year, the report stated there will also be changes noted in the source of tourists. Logically, there should be a significant rise in the number of Scandinavian and German visitors, many of whom drive to Greece, while the corresponding figure for Britons will be smaller. Though the institute views 2000 as generally positive, researchers pointed out a number of factors which have remained unchanged over the past decade.Greece, which has attempted to diversify its tourist base in recent years, continues to draw Europeans almost exclusiveely, who represent 90% of all foreign arrivals. The proportion of Americans, who the industry assumes are among the biggest spenders when they travel, has dropped from 4.3% in 1990 to 2.5%. ITEP lamented the fact that Greece has failed to tap into the fast-growing markets of east and southeast Asia. Researchers concluded there was a need for in-depth study of the problems caused by the sector's dependence on a handful of source countries. Researcher Panagiotis Pavlopoulos said he viewed as 'utopian' the belief in some sectors, and the government, that alternative forms of tourism hold the key to the industry's long-term survival and the unemployment problem. Most visitors come to Greece for the sun, sea and archaeological sights so emphasis should be placed on improving relative infrastructure, he noted. The report found that tourists stay for an average of 11.5 days and spend around $2,222 each.
GA Ferries cancellation of their order for a 150m long, 25m beam ferry to be built at Aker Finnyards has hit the builder badly. The order was lost when Minoan Flying Dolphins acquired 46% of Greece’s GA Ferries, named after Gerassimos Agoudimos. MFD said that they had problems with the ships main characteristics and that it was a ‘strategic misfit’ with their own plans. With an option for a second vessel the order was said to be worth Fm1bn.
Wartsila NSD powers Greek ferry revolution Wartsila NSD powers Greek ferry revolution This being Posidonia time, diesel designer Wartsila NSD is pointing out that in the past two years it has sold medium-speed diesel engines to the value of more than 220 million Euro (around $200 million) for ferries, Ro-Ro vessels, cruise ships and other vessels contracted by Greek owners. These involve a total of 103 main diesel engines having an aggregate power of 1.13 million kW. Most of these newbuildings are ferries for upgrading domestic services to the Greek islands and for providing greater capacities on the Adriatic services. The latest order is for the engines to be installed in a pair of 30,000 grt ferries contracted by Attica Enterprises at Germany's Flender Werft. Due for delivery early in 2002, these ferries will each be powered by four Wartsila 12V46C engines of 48,000 kW output for a service speed of 28.5 knots. This contract continues a relationship between Wartsila NSD and Attica Enterprises which began with Attica's first Superfast ferries that entered service in 1995 on the Patras-Ancona route between Greece and Italy. The two ferries contracted at Flender Werft will be the eleventh and twelfth Superfast ferries to be powered by engines from Wartsila NSD.
|
The
Board of Directors of Attica Enterprises S.A. is pleased to announce the
delivery of Superfast VIII, the second of a series of four sister vessels built
at Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG, Kiel, Germany. This is the fourth delivery
from the same yard this year, following Superfast V and Superfast VI at the
beginning of the year and Superfast VII in May.
The
executive committee of Attica Enterprises recently welcomed the new luxury liner
Superfast V from the HDW Kielou shipyards in Germany. 
George
Vernicos Greece’s Vernicos Yachts enjoyed increased profits and saw a boost in
its chartering in the first nine months of 2000. More specifically, turnover
from charters between January 1 and September 30 totalled 743 million drachmas,
up from 346 million in the corresponding period last year - representing a rise
of 114%. Profits for the same period jumped to 711 million, from 429 million
drachmas in 1999 - an increase of 65.5%. The firm recently became holding
company and was renamed Vernicos Yachts & Holdings, covering its
specialisation in marine tourism but also its financial and investment activity,
as well as involvement in transport. Marine tourism remains the top priority and
its activities in this area cover yachts, marinas and hotels.
Harmony
G Greek-based Harmony Cruises is to launch its new luxury mega-yacht 'Harmony G'
on December 14 at Athens' Vouliagmeni marina.The vessel, built at the Latsis
shipyards in Elefsina, is the first of four yachts which the company has
commissioned for delivery by spring 2004. The 54-metre 'Harmony G', which caters
to 44 passengers in 18 cabins and four suites, is equipped with the latest
technology allowing it to sail in any part of the world, under even extreme
weather conditions. It will undertake trips to west Africa, southern Spain and
Italy from December 26.
The
largest Greek-flagged mega-yacht catamaran was officially presented for the
first time last week at the Palio Faliro Yacht Club. Unique in its class in the
Mediterranean, the Neptune ranks eighth globally. Built by France's Dufour
shipyards, it was brought to Greece by Dufour's Greek representative Alemar
Optima Yachts. The order for the building of this outstanding yacht followed an
extensive study of the growing European market. Showcasing Dufour's high
standards, the Neptune offers safety and comfort even in winds of 7-8 on the
Beaufort scale, due to its catamaran design and should satisfy the most
demanding client. Alemar Optima Yachts' fleet includes another 70 sailing
vessels, which are available for charter. The Neptune is staffed by a crew of
three to four, depending on the size of the group hiring the yacht, and is
available for charter from marinas in Greece as well as the eastern and western
Mediterranean. Alemar Optima Yachts' George Panagakos told TDN that, among the
firm's plans, is an order for the building of catamarans with a capacity of 100
for one-day cruises.
Greece's
passenger shipping industry is undergoing major changes such as rapid
automation, constant deliveries of new vessels and alterations in market
conditions are changing the face of the sector and the way it operates. However,
in order to effectively promote its services, the industry must extend their
distribution network via reservations systems and ticket agencies. Such an
expansion would present new opportunities as well as meet the need for a system
of accountability and settlement of accounts. Piraeus Bank has come forward to
meet such a need, through the formation of the firm Piraeus CTS SA, whose
shareholders are the Piraeus Bank SA and Piraeus Finance SA. Piraeus CTS general
manager Nikos Spyridakis told TDN that the firm's immediate aims were to expand
automation, distribute the single sea travel ticket that is set to be introduced
and settle accounts with travel agents for shipping lines. A pilot of the new
ticket sales system will begin in October and should be fully implemented by
January next year. CTS will promote the single travel ticket for firms offering
this service.