The need to renew the Greek fleet of rescue vessels and tugboats is pointed out by the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association of Tugs, Salvage, Antipollution and Offshore Support Vessels.
The Association cites a study prepared by the School of Shipbuilding and Mechanical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens on the “role of Lifeboat Tugboats and the existing status in Greece” in which it is emphasized that the Greek fleet of lifeboat tugs lags in all technical specifications compared to the corresponding European fleets.
The study
In Greece there are no rescue tugs that can meet the modern needs of its territorial waters, the coverage of the EEZ and the conduct of Search and Rescue (SAR), says the study which proceeds with a comparison of the Greek and European rescue tug fleets, providing a revealing comparison of how far behind the Greek fleet has fallen. Indicatively, it is stated that the average age of the Greek fleet is 35 years, while that of the European fleet is 14 years. The average pulling power of the Greek fleet is 43.75 metric tons, while that of the European fleet is 147 metric tons. Also, the maximum speed of the Greek fleet is 12.4 knots while the European one is 15.6 knots.
And all this in a period, as noted in the study, that the SE Mediterranean is a bone of contention for the largest oil giants and with the Aegean Sea being an area of high traffic density due to the continuous development of oil and gas extraction companies in Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt , Black Sea, Greece and Malta. Also, the Greek territorial waters with their peculiarities such as the abundance of islands, islets and reefs make it necessary to have modern lifesaving means and tugboats.
The proposals
The proposals provided by the NTUA study, among other things, recommend the renewal of the fleet with an investment in modern Rescue Tugboats and the division of the Aegean Sea into Standby Zones. At the same time, the rescue boats will be on alert 24/7, 365 days a year, in order to assist in a timely and efficient manner in an accident within Greek territorial waters, so that accidents like the sinking of the Sea Diamond do not happen again. In this way, the defense of Greece’s sovereign rights in the Aegean is shielded against Turkey’s claims and it is ensured that in the event of an accident, the possible consequences will be avoided or at least minimized (human casualties, environmental pollution, towing costs, etc.), the study emphasizes.
Latest News
Bank of Greece Governor Says EU will Retaliate to Trump’s Tarrifs
The Bank of Greece Governor defended the independence of central banks amid criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who had publicly commented on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powel
September in Greece Winning Tourists Over from US, Germany
Tourists continue to visit Greece off-season into Sept. with the number of inbound travelers up by 6.6% and a 7.9% rise in travel receipts.
Bitcoin Surges Toward $100K Amid Pro-Crypto Optimism in US
According to Reuters, the cryptocurrency surged to an all-time high, briefly exceeding $96,898 during Asian trading hours.
Greek Driver Violations at a Touch of a Button
Traffic offences recorded in the last five years by Greece’s “Driver Behavior Control System” are now available on Gov.gr Wallet
Milan Tops List of Most Expensive Streets, Athens’ Ermou Holds Steady at 15th Place
In Athens, following Ermou Street is the southern suburb of Glyfada and Tsimiski Street in Thessaloniki.
New Gov.gr Service Enables Secure Reporting of Minor-Related Delinquency
It should also be noted that via the recently introduced initiative ‘Safe Youth’ application citizens have access to specially tailored informative material regarding the safety of children and adolescents
Thousands Strike in Athens Over Soaring Living Costs and Stagnant Wages
Inflation, particularly in food prices, has been crushing Greek households
Greece Overhauls Property Valuation System
Greece plans to launch a revamped property value registry in 2025 and overhaul the way objective values are calculated to enhance tax revenue and improve transparency.
Greece’s New Tax Bill Foresees Tax Relief Beyond Big Business
Tax relief measures in Greece are proposed for freelancers, property owners and farmers, along with 'big business'
Unions Call Nationwide Industrial Strike for Wed.
Mass transits are usually affected, especially in the greater Athens-Piraeus area, although bus and metro services are curtailed but not fully halted