The goal is to have about 150 waterways operating in five years, creating the largest network in all of Europe.
The mega project of seaplanes and the operation of seaports are getting closer and closer to the sea, as their construction and licensing procedures are in full swing throughout Greece.
About 150 waterways
The goal is to have about 150 waterways operating in five years, creating the largest network in all of Europe.
According to the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes S.A., Nikolas Charalambous and the President of Hellenic Waterways, Anastasios Govas, the leadership of the companies that “run” the developments in the issue of licensing waterways, aspires to turn Greece into Maldives in Europe with the creation of 2,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs, to “rewrite” the map of transport in our country and in its full development to give the Greek economy over 1 billion euros.
According to him, this is a project that brings investments of over 300 million euros in five years, through the construction of waterways (over 50 million euros), the purchase of aircraft whose number is estimated for the first five years in at least 20 (about 130 million euros), but also the creation of a seaplane pilot training school, among others.
The procedures for the completion of the project may have gone through “40 waves” and were delayed last year due to the arrival of the pandemic, but the preparations did not stop.
The next steps
The following report includes the analysis of the phase of each of the waterways undertaken by the two companies in the area, Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and Hellenic Waterways IKE, the two that have committed to carry out this difficult task of creating a national network of waterways while the next steps to be followed for the positive outcome of all future projects were defined.
“We will continue to utilize and build on what we have achieved so far, to ensure that our planning for the implementation of the licenses of the waterways that we have undertaken is progressing with fast steps and consistency.”
“At the same time, we are defining new locations – targets that are potential destinations and could have their own waterway along the way.”
“Greece will soon have the largest network of waterways in Europe and in the world,” said Mr. Charalambous.
The president of Hellenic Waterways IKE, Anastasios Govas stated: “We are working systematically in order to create an extensive network of waterways in Greece.”
Safe operation
“The existence of licensed waterways is a necessary condition for the safe operation of seaplanes, which with their flights will contribute to the development of local economies of the islands, to the upgrading of their tourism and consequently to the improvement of the quality of life of their inhabitants.”
Regarding the developments around the waterways, these refer to the technical files for the waterways throughout the territory, on which the two companies have been active for a long time and build the network on which the organized flights of the passengers with seaplanes will operate.
The completion of the waterway network and the start of the flight project, institutionally fortified, pave the way for attracting individual investments, as companies from Greece and abroad are expected to make moves to acquire a share of the new pie to be created.
Southern Aegean Sea
According to the information from the two companies:
– The waterways of the South Aegean with the union of the companies Seaplanes Hellas, Hellenic Waterways IKE and Optimum Value are at a very advanced level, as the studies of environmental impact studies and noise studies for the islands are completed:
Mykonos, Kythnos, Sikinos, Serifos, Donoussa, Anafi, Halki, Symi, Tilos, Karpathos, Kastelorizo, Agathonisi, Nisyros, Astypalea, Paros, Kos, Milos, Syros, Kalymnos, Lipsi, Leros, Ios and Kasos.
The licensing files of the islands of Donoussa, Agathonisi, Symi and Anafi are at an advanced stage.
Soon all the technical files will be completed with the final recipient the competent department of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Ioannina
– For the Ioannina waterway (Lake Pamvotida) the perfect cooperation of the two companies with the public bodies participating in the project is confirmed once again, as the locations in the candidate areas intended to create the project have been completed and the environmental and noise studies have launched, the project is to be launched in the near future.
Kyllini
– Regarding the Kyllini waterway, with the completion of the location processes, Hellenic Seaplanes S.A and Hellenic Waterways IKE regulate the latest technical details always in collaboration with the Port Fund of Kyllini, so that they are ready to submit the technical file of the waterway licensing to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in February.
Euboea
– In Euboea, everything has taken its course, as the environmental studies have now been completed in all five waterways of the island and specifically in Chalkida, Edipsos, Karystos, Aliveri and Kimi.
The action plan that has been put on the table has the ultimate goal of approving at the same time by the competent bodies the permits for the establishment of a waterway in all five points of Euboea.
Volos
– For the Volos waterway, with the submission of all the application documents of the Volos waterway, the association Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and Optimum Value await final approval for the establishment permit from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
Tinos and Skyros
– In Tinos and Skyros, the construction works of the waterways begin. After the removal of the urban barriers, the construction plan has been defined and it is expected that the inauguration of these two waterways will take place by the spring.
Chios, Psara, Oinousses and Diapontia islands
– Chios, Psara and Oinousses return the waterways to an implementation trajectory.
– Waterways in the Diapontia Islands. In Ereikoussa, Othonous, Mathraki, (on the three beautiful islands north of Corfu) the creation of waterways is planned.
“Hellenic Waterways” has completed the preparation of the Technical Files of the three seaports, which it will submit to the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport as a contractor of the “Corfu Port Organization” which has jurisdiction over the ports of the Diapontian Islands.
Amfilochia
– Amfilochia waterway is defined by Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. to the overnight point of the seaplanes on the Ionian side and the final approval is expected from the Municipality of Amfilochia.
Crete
– Crete enters dynamically with 7 waterways on the island. Starting from the Rethymnon waterway, the following waterways are: Sitia, Heraklion, Ierapetra, Chania, Malevizi and Agia Galini.
– On the initiative of the Peloponnese Regional Governor Mr. Nikas, the licensing of a waterway on Lake Taka began.
Patmos
– Patmos continues the completion of the construction of the waterway after the issuance of the Official Gazette for urban planning. After the elimination of the urban barriers, its construction will be completed immediately.
Skopelos and Alonnisos
– Skopelos and Alonnisos finalize the latest licensing documents and start construction.
Region of Attica
– It is also expected the start of the licensing process by the governor of Attica G. Patoulis in the proposed design of the two companies for the creation of a network of waterways in the islands of the Saronic Gulf and the coast of the Attica region.
Other areas
Many waterways may have gone their own way and are in the process of getting their licenses ready, but that doesn’t stop Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. so much as well as the Hellenic Seaways IKE to make their planning for the further approach of organizations and port funds and other coastal areas or islands to obtain a license to establish a seaport.
The position of the airlines is twofold as a Pilot Training Academy will be created but also an extended cooperation regarding the offer of common “packages” of tickets or the additional operation of seaplanes in terms of air routes, for the transport of passengers to or from conventional airports and from or to the waterways.