The Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced on Friday the new government lineup. The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promoted younger-generation officials into key ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, aiming to showcase a different version of an administration.
The “generational shift” in government is evident through a series of appointments where ministers and deputy ministers fall within the 50-something or 40-something age brackets.
A portfolio full of challenges awaits the new Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, 51-year-old, Vasilis Kikilias who replaces Christos Stylianides. A portfolio linked to international geopolitical developments and the “green transition” but also to ferry ticket prices, safety on board ships, the management of significant funds and to attract more tonnage to the Greek flag.
Domestically, the strengthening of the Greek registry is always one of the most important priorities of each Minister of Shipping.
Therefore, the new Minister will need to take measures and follow strategies to make the Greek registry more attractive even though the Greek registry was and remains strong.
Given the size of the country’s coastal shipping fleet, the challenges faced internationally by the industry, with the most important being the transition to an “emission-free” era, are a top priority for each Greek Minister of Shipping and Vasilis Kikilias is called to continue a policy in favor of the adoption and implementation of measures that will lead to an emission-free shipping.
However, the first crash test for the new minister of shipping will be to ensure that ferry ticket prices do not skyrocket.
The minister after his new appointment spoke of “great battles, reversals and upgrades” as his top priorities.
Kikilias emphasized that the first mission of the ministry is to work together with the private sector to maintain and even reduce the ferry ticket prices to and from Piraeus.
The minister emphasized during the ministry’s handover ceremony that citizens, travellers and employees’ safety is a top priority.
The second issue, he said, is the Coast Guard. “The Coast Guard is glorious and has fought huge battles in very difficult times. I will put a shield of protection against those who want to harm it,” he stressed.
Kikilias also referred to the seafarers training during his speech. “We should all sit at the same table. And we will upgrade whatever we feel we are not happy with.”
On the development potential of the Port of Piraeus, Kikilias spoke of “grand plans,” promising “measurable results.”
Photo: Kikilias with Stylianides-former minister (in the centre) and deputy minister Gkikas
The former Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy Christos Stylianides earlier this year called for the modernization of the country’s coastal shipping sector to meet the challenges of the modern era.
The need for immediate renewal of the coastal shipping fleet, with newly built eco-friendly, safe vessels, was highlighted by the former minister in his speech at the conference of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN) held at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens.
The new policy of the ministry is based on a specific triptych Safety-Modernization-Restructuring, which is implemented through six strategic initiatives: the digital portal “Passenger Rights”, the time slots (digital departure-arrival), the public private partnership for green ships on barren routes, the Masterplan for the renewal of the coastal shipping fleet, the cooperative scheme (cluster) to enhance the competitiveness of shipping and the restructuring and modernization of the ministry and the coast guard.
Referring, however, to finding/covering the required funding for the implementation of the above projects, the former minister conveyed the commitment of the new members of the European Commission, to continue supporting the initiatives and projects aimed at modern and environmentally friendly shipping, with the corresponding port infrastructure.
Regarding geopolitical developments, which certainly affect the maritime transport, the main priority of the ministry was and remains the effective resolution of security threats for both seafarers and shipping.
Vasilis Kikilias, who moves to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy as the new minister, was born in Athens in 1974, orthopedic surgeon in profession and a retired professional basketball player.
Vassilis Kikilias prior to this position was the Minister of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection of Greece.
Prior to his post he served as the Minister of Tourism (2021-2023), Minister of Health (2019-2021) and Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection (2014-2015).
He is an elected member of the Greek Parliament since 2012 with a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Athens.
As a professional basketball player, he has played for Panionios BC, AEK BC and the Greek National Team. He is married and has one son.
Last week, Stefanos Gkikas who remains in the position as the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, in response to a relevant question in the Greek parliament he stressed that on the part of the Ministry it is a goal to attract more ships to the Greek flag and in this context initiatives are being taken in the direction of modernizing the procedures for registering ships in the Greek registry.
At the same time, he said that: “Maritime education is being modernized and upgraded, adapting to the ever-increasing demands of the transitional phase we are in global shipping.”
The Deputy Minister referred to the development of electronic applications that have been created – like the myNaftiliaLive.gov.gr application through which seafarers are given the opportunity to schedule online appointments to process their bureaucratic issues, the seafarer’s e-Box related to seafarers’ census issues and other applications – with the aim of simplifying and shortening procedures.
Regarding the shipping companies, the Deputy Minister said: “The shipping companies established in Greece currently amount to 1.647, showing a significant increase, if one considers that in 2015 they were 1.343 and in 2019 they were 1.441.”
