Full-Speed Ahead for Corfu, Paxi Waterways

The waterways on the islands of Corfu and neighboring Paxi are moving full speed ahead after receiving approval for all contract procedures, regional authorities said this week.

Ionian Islands Prefect Theodoros Galiatsatos confirmed that all bureaucratic obstacles have been overcome and funding for the construction of the seaplanes has been secured, adding that despite it being too early to announce the starting date, licensed waterways – Corfu and Paxi – may begin operations as early as next year.

“We have finally secured all the approvals for contracts with the relevant port authorities, municipalities and shipping ministry, which was a necessary step towards filing complete documentation for licensing of the waterways,” Galiatsatos said.

The Ionian Island prefect comes after Public Assets Management Fund (TAIPED) President Stergios Pitsiorlas, who said in September that “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”.

According to Pitsiorlas, the waterway in Patras is next on the list for licensing ahead of a relevant bill to be tabled in parliament giving the green light for the construction of a public waterway network across Greece.