Piraeus: Marine transport traffic is increasing in view of the opening of tourism

Τraffic for the islands has picked up slightly on ships from the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio, these days and in view of the Easter holidays, but it is still much lower of course, compared to normal conditions of previous years.

At the same time, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy is intensifying checks, as a result of which, as noted, in the port of Piraeus, many “bans” were placed on passengers and cars by Coast Guard personnel as it was found that they did not have the requisite legal travel documents.

It is noted that travel by boat is allowed for work reasons, for health reasons, for a one-time trip to the place of residence and for divorced parents who want to visit their children.

According to seafarers, traffic remains much lower than in previous years, before the pandemic, when “Lazarus Saturday” (the Saturday before Orthodox Holy Week) would see perhaps 2,000 people travelling by ships, while now this number is closer to 400. However, compared to a couple of weeks earlier, there was some increase in mobility since many passengers had documents giving them the right to travel.

There is also a tendency for greater mobility for trucks as in view of the opening of the tourist season from May 14, the  materials necessary for the renovation of tourism businesses are transported and the supply of tourist units and restaurants has begun.

At the same time, the Ministry of Shipping, as Minister Giannis Plakiotakis said speaking on television, in the context of the overall protection of society from the Covid-19 pandemic and the special concern for the health safety of seafarers, the ministry in collaboration with the Sailor’s Fund NAT, created, in record time, a platform corresponding to ERGANI, in which shipping companies will be able to register sailors working on their ships in order for them to have the right to the free SELF TEST for Covid-19.

It is noted that seafarers are not part of the ERGANI system, like other employees in the private sector, and therefore there is a need for another platform. This database will be connected to the corresponding one of IDIKA, while the result will be registered in the same database which will be user friendly and available even through a mobile phone. Already, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy in cooperation with the competent Ministries (Health, Digital Reform, Labor) has promoted a joint ministerial decision that will be published in the coming days.