Hellenic Ports Association: MoU with the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Shipping Agencies

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on Tuesday in Thessaloniki between the Hellenic Ports Association and the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Shipping Agencies. The Memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the International Exhibition “The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum”, by Mr. Thanos Liagos, president of Hellenic Ports Association and executive chairman & managing director of the Thessaloniki Port Authority SA and Mr. Giorgos Koumbenas, chairman of the board of directors of Association of Short Shippers-EEKFN.

In particular, the cooperation of the two sides focuses on the exchange of information and know-how for the promotion of cruises, maritime tourism and the blue economy. The two Parties are also committed to cooperate with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of the cruise industry and the development and adaptation of port facilities to alternative fuel infrastructures and the provision of electricity during the ships’ stay in ports. The two sides will proceed with cooperation in matters of security, identification, registration and control of passengers and crews at the ports with the aim of regulatory compliance with the legislation of the European Union regarding the Entry-Exit System (Schengen Gates).

The Memorandum also provides for cooperation in matters of data processing regarding the number of cruise ships and passengers scheduled to visit the Ports – Members of the Hellenic Ports Union in the future as well as in matters of coordination.

For the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation, there will be a Joint Committee consisting of representatives of both sides.

In the framework of the Exhibition, the representatives of the Greek ports held a series of contacts and meetings with managers of Cruise companies as well as the leadership of the International Association of Cruise Companies (Cruise Line International Assocation) and the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise). In these meetings, the ever-increasing interest of the companies in further growth of the Greek cruise destinations was confirmed, recognizing that this year, as everything shows, will move to record levels.

The previous day, Monday April 24, the Board of Directors of the Greek Ports Association met at the Offices of the Thessaloniki Port Organization. The Agenda included important issues such as the regulatory compliance of ports to the new legislative framework of the European Union regarding the Entry-Exit System (Schengen Gates), the connectivity between ports, railways, highways and airports, issues of port and ship security, navigational service , providing tug services, etc. It was also announced that the Hellenic Ports Association joined the International Association of Ports and Harbors (International Association of Ports and Harbors) based in Tokyo, Japan, which confirms, once again, the increased extroversion of Greek ports.