Angelos Karakostas, President of the Greek Ports Association.
In the new, dynamically developing landscape that is being created in our country, the role of the Hellenic Ports Association is more important than ever by strengthening the already existing strong ties between the Organizations.
The Hellenic Ports Association is the active link between the country's 13 Port Organizations and the 10 most important Port Funds in terms of activity. In recent years, two of the Port Organizations have come under the control of international investors and investment schemes, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, with companies that are also listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, while four Port Organizations, in Alexandroupoli, Kavala, Igoumenitsa and Heraklion, are moving towards exploitation, through the HRADF process, either by selling a majority stake or by sub-concession of activities.
At the same time, the Association is expanding with the inclusion of the Municipal Port Fund of Ios, which represents both Ios itself and Anafi, Folegandros and Sikinos, as well as other Port Funds that have expressed a keen interest. The Association of Greek Ports participates in all important domestic and international events and exhibitions, effectively promoting, with data and arguments, the views and positions of its members. It is the main advisor to the State on issues of port policy development. It participates in parliamentary consultations on all port issues with proposals and in-depth contributions. It represents the country in the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO), where it has a leading role. The major challenges we face, of course, concern the war in Ukraine and its consequences, with the management of the crisis inevitably affecting Greek ports, as well as the finalization of the health protocols for the pandemic for this year. We are working closely with the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy and other relevant ministries and agencies on these two particularly serious issues. However, in addition to the major challenges facing our country as a whole, the war in Ukraine and the pandemic, Greek ports are on a trajectory of dynamic transformation to address three more very important challenges: first, the green transition with the use of renewable and other "clean" energy sources, second, the promotion and completion of the digital transition, and, third, the upgrading and modernization of port infrastructure and port services provided. Particularly in the field of green transition, there are significant legislative initiatives at both European and national levels with extremely ambitious goals.
The Hellenic Ports Association and its members are actively participating in the consultation for the adoption of a new European Union Regulation for the development of alternative fuel infrastructure, within the framework of the "Fit for 55" initiative, i.e. the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. A new Regulation is being formulated, which, based on the European Commission's planning, will be voted on in 2022. The current draft Regulation provides, among other things, for the provision of electricity to 90% of ships over 5.000 tons from each port, after a two-hour stay in its facilities, with a deadline for implementation in 2030, although there are voices calling for its implementation earlier and for smaller ships.
Also, the construction of LNG fueling facilities by 2025 to serve dual-fuel ships and, in this general context, FSRU floating platform facilities and other related projects. As we all understand, the level of investment required is particularly important, so that in principle there is the possibility of providing power to this large amount of electricity in the ports both in the transmission of electricity to the port facilities and in the port infrastructure itself. Indicatively in the port of Piraeus, the largest in the country, the power supply simultaneously concerns, among other things, the presence of 11 container ships, 8 cruise ships, 24 passenger ships. Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and other ports within the urban fabric have similar needs. These necessary investments will require significant state support in the network sector and significant investments that will increase the cost of providing port services. And at the same time, investments are underway in all ports of the Union in the field of digital transition and continuous infrastructure upgrading.
Finally, the messages we receive in the cruise sector for 2022 are particularly optimistic and are confirmed by the movement in the first four months of the year. Based on data from the Association of Greek Ports, bookings show an increase of around 25% overall for Greek ports, with an emphasis on the homeporting sector, the top source of growth for Greek cruise and tourism. Greek ports work with a plan, a strategy and present tangible results for the Greek economy, growth and job creation
