Greece’s Asset Body Chief Says ‘Matter of Time’ Before Waterways Operate

Waterways on Corfu, Paxi and Patra are set to operate immediately, Public Assets Management Fund (TAIPED) President Stergios Pitsiorlas said this week.

Speaking to the press at Corfu City Hall, Pitsiorlas said the waterways on Corfu and Paxi have already received the green light and that Patra is next.

“The waterway network will start from Corfu, as the licensing for Corfu and Paxi is completed and we are expecting approval for Patra in a matter of days. There must be a number of operational waterways in place order to ensure activity,” Pitsiorlas told the Athens New Agency.

 “The Ionian will be the first region in Greece where hydroplanes will operate, and I expect the regional authorities to assist in this direction,” he added.

The president of TAIPED confirmed that the agreement between the Corfu Port Authority (CPA) and leading investor Hellenic Seaplanes was still in effect adding that a new law setting out the institutional framework will be tabled in parliament soon.

In August, Hellenic Seaplanes said the new draft law covering license procedures, construction and operation of waterways was putting a damper on any waterway plans and projects currently underway.

CPA president Spyros Stefanidis reiterated that there was no problem with the partnership, and added that “there needs to be a slight modification of the existing agreement, which states that anything purchased by the CPA will remain in its property. This said, we are ready within 72 hours to welcome the first seaplanes,” Stefanidis added.

In the meantime, Chinese investors visited Corfu earlier this year to discuss collaborating with the operators of the Corfu waterway.