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Domestic Ferry Connections |
The beauty of the Greek islands, with the gorgeous beaches, the
sun and the crystal-clear waters, is accessible to anyone who
chooses Greece as a vacation spot. This is due to the strong
network of coastal transport and communications, serviced by
modern vessels of all categories, and going to all destinations.
The luxurious and speedy vessels of the Greek coastal shipping
industry, complement and add to the charm of the Greek multitude
of islands, as numerous and regular connections shorten the
distances between the center and the isle. Under these
conditions, the Greek isles become the neighborhoods and suburbs
of one large city.
Vessels of every type, passenger ships, ferries, hydrofoils and
catamaran craft cross the sea highways, in all the seas of the
country, able to carry 100,000 passengers and 20,000 private
vehicles every day. These vessels are distributed in such a
manner that they connect the Central harbours of Attica, Piraeus
and Rafina with the islands, and every island to the other. In
addition, other harbours of Attica and continental Greece are
connected by ship with the islands.
Moreover, the remaining harbours of Attica and the other
harbours of mainland Greece such as Patras, Kyllini,
Thessaloniki, Igoumenitsa, Alexandroupolis, Kavala, Volos, etc.
have a coastal connection to the island region.
Most domestic routes take place every day and throughout the
year. Some depart in the afternoon for all-night travel, and
some leave in the morning to return on the same day via the same
or other ports.
The vessels belonging to members of the Union of Coastal
Passenger Ships Owners and the Union of Domestic Ferries, some
newly built and some recently renovated, fulfill all the
requirements set forth by international agreements, community
regulations and national legislation with respect to matters of
fire safety, safe navigation, comfort and the protection of
marine environment etc.
With regards to the accommodation of the passenger of such
vessels, the common goal of Greek ship owners is to ensure the
vacationing of the passengers, from their entry to the ships
carrying them to the island they have chosen as their vacation
spot, to their return by ship at the end of this vacation.
All passenger ships, depending on the routes they do, have First
and Economy classes, bar, restaurant and other services that
vary depending on the type of vessel and the duration of the
trip.
The Greek state, in accordance to international agreements and
contemporary social imperatives, has established legislative
amendments regarding the transport of handicapped persons on
Greek coastal passenger ships, in accordance with particular
specifications. Modifications are already under way in the
ships, depending on their routes, aiming to make them more
accessible to such persons, practically in the entire Greek
coastal transport. The servicing of sea passenger between the
Dodekanese, the Cyclades, and the islands of the Eastern Aegean
is concluded with the free and subsidised itineraries of local
routes, for which the Ministry of the Aegean is responsible.
In this manner, whoever wants to get acquainted with Greece,
from one corner to another, can put to use the options offered
by the Greek maritime transport and communications.
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