Thessaloniki will be linked to the Cycladic islands and Crete via a bi-weekly ferry service which will be launched very soon, announced Alternate Shipping Minister Nektarios Santorinios during the 15th Regional Conference held in Syros.
According to GTP Headlines, the route, to run twice a week for three months will connect Thessaloniki, Skiathos, Syros and other Cyclades isles with Heraklion on Crete and is subsidised by government funds for remote island regions.
“This ferry connection can create new markets for the Cycladic islands,” said Santorinios, adding that “every Friday and Sunday, a high-speed ferry will be launched from Piraeus, which will twice a week link Heraklion with the Cyclades, go to Syros, and from there to Santorini. In this way, the problem of Syros’ connection with the mainland is largely covered”.
The Minister also referred to the infrastructure works currently underway on certain islands as well as to a pilot program that aims to make the transport of goods and people cheaper for remote island regions. In this direction, Santorinios said the government was “meeting the needs of the islanders with 60 million euros in funding for the first and second half of 2018, and with at least 150 million euros for each year after that”.
*Source: GTP Headlines
