Greek Coastal Shipping Companies to Receive Extra €20m as Support

The Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy recently announced that an additional 20 million euros will be given to support Greek coastal shipping companies that have been impacted by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

According to a joint ministerial decision published in the Government Gazette, beneficiaries of the aid are ship owners-companies and consortia that have contracts with the state for ferry and waterway services until December 31.

With the new funds, the total support package for coastal shipping will reach 55 million euros for 2020.

Greek Shipping Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis

“From the first moment of this health crisis, we have undertaken measures to support both [maritime] companies and employees. We’ve protected jobs by subsidizing employer contributions for seafarers, suspending employment contracts and reducing port fees,” Shipping Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis said.

“We are also working to extend the existing measures for 2021, and add new ones – if necessary – in order to confront the negative consequences of the ongoing pandemic as well as ensure the continuous connection of the islands with mainland Greece,” he added.