Ferries New Greek Law Requires Ferries to Upgrade for Passengers with Mobility Needs by GTP editing team 2 September 2024 written by GTP editing team 2 September 2024 1 comment Share 0FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 31 Coastal shipping vessels in Greece will be required to install easy-access equipment and create designated areas meeting specific standards for people with mobility limitations, the elderly, and pregnant women, according to a new Presidential Decree. While many ferries already offer such accessibility features, the Greek Ministry of Maritime and Insular Policy recognized the need for a formal legal framework addressing this critical issue, which relates not only to comfort but also to safety on board. The Presidential Decree specifically mandates the inclusion of special public areas, elevators to ship decks, and accessible ramps. Signed by the leadership of the Hellenic Coast Guard and Maritime Minister Christos Stylianides, the decree will next need approval from Greece’s supreme administrative court, the Hellenic Council of State. Existing ships will have a three-year period to implement the necessary modifications to comply with the new decree, while all new ships, including green technology vessels currently being built in Greece, must meet these standards before entering service. Join the 15,000+ travel executives who read our newsletter Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece. Share 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail GTP editing team This is the team byline for GTP. The copyrights for these articles are owned by GTP. They may not be redistributed without the permission of the owner. previous post Santorini’s Caldera Zone to Face Construction Freeze Under New Legislation next post Greek Cruise Ship Owners Present Proposals to Enhance Passenger Experience in Greece You may also like Greece’s Hotel Market Sees Major Investments Over Four Months 5 February 2025 Greek Tourism Ministry Monitors Santorini Situation as Seismic Activity Continues 5 February 2025 Global Air Passenger Demand Reaches Record High in 2024, IATA Reports 5 February 2025 Greek PM Reassures Public About Santorini’s Ongoing Seismic Activity 5 February 2025 Milos: Ministry Suspends 5-star Hotel Construction Near Sarakiniko Beach 5 February 2025 ELIME and HELMEPA Join Forces for Safer, More Sustainable Greek Ports 5 February 2025 1 comment Ivor Ambrose 3 September 2024 - 13:03 Very welcome news! The provision of appropriate measures on board ferries and ships to serve passengers with reduced mobilty is an obvious and reasonable accommodation to their needs for good, safe, comfortable access. It’s time everyone can travel together, with the same level of service. Accessibility must also be assured in the ports and adjacent streets. Accessible trasportation (of all kinds) should be a fundamental priority for making Greece an accessible destination for all tourists and, of course, its citizens with disabilities and those with other access requirements. It will take a concerted effort by both the private sector operators and public authorities to achieve this goal. Let us hope the Hellenic Council of State recognises this is a fundamental right. And let the work begin! Reply Leave a Reply to Ivor Ambrose Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
