The issue of port safety is a major concern for the shipping ministry, Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias said on Monday at the first conference of the Hellenic Shipowners Association of Tugs, Salvage, Anti-pollution and OSVS Ships held at the Stone Warehouse of the Piraeus Port Association. This highlighted the need to modernise the fleet of tugs and to ensure the safety and protection of the marine environment.
Kikilias announced that the safety framework for towing and ports will be updated to increase safety and prevent accidents.
Referring to coastal shipping, he said that inspections of ferries have increased, with 20 scheduled and 180 spot inspections during this season, adding that inspections will continue to be intensified throughout the summer in order to safeguard the quality of services to passengers and tourists.
During the event, the minister presented the captain and crew of the tug "Aegean Pelagos" with an award for their actions in the operation to salvage and put out a fire on the tanker "Sounion" in the Red Sea the previous August, following an attack by Houthi rebels that caused the tanker's crew to abandon ship. Working in very difficult conditions, the tugboat's crew succeeded in averting a possible ecological disaster.
In addition, the Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the French classification society Bureau Veritas and the shipbuilding group Onex for the construction of 20 new tugboats to add to the Greek fleet.