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 SA, Nikolas Charalambous and the
president of Hellenic Waterways, Anastasios Govas, the leadership of
the companies, that run the waterways' licensing process, aspires to
turn Greece into Europe's Maldives, with the creation of 2,000 direct
and 5,000 indirect jobs, to "rewrite" the map of transport in our
country and, when fully developed, to contribute to the Greek economy by
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 aircrafts, at least 20 during the
first 5 years (about 130 million), and the creation of a seaplane pilot
training school, among others.
They may have had to jump through hoops for procedures of the project to
be complited, while there were further delayed last year, due to the
the pandemic, but the preparations did not stop. The following report
includes the analysis of the phase of each of the waterways undertaken
by the two companies, Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and Hellenic Waterways PC,
that have committed themselves to carry out the difficult task of
creating a national network of waterways, while it defines the next
steps to be followed, for a positive outcome of all future projects.
"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 fast and
consistently. At the same time, we are defining the 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 PC, Anastasios Govas stated in this
regard: "We are working systematically in order to create an extensive
network of waterways in Greece. The existence of licensed waterways is a
necessary condition for the safe operation of seaplanes which, through
their flights, will contribute to the development of the islands' local
economies, 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 country, on which the
two companies have been active for a long time and will build the
network on which organized flights of 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" that will be created.
.
According to the information from the two companies:
- The waterways in South Aegean with the union of the companies Hellenic
Seaplanes, Hellenic Waterways and Optimum Value are at a very advanced
level, as the environmental impact studies and noise studies for the
islands are completed: Mykonos, Kythnos, Sikinos, Serifos, Anos 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 competent department of the Ministry of
Infrastructure and Transport as the final recipient.
- 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 been programmed to be launched in the near future.
- Regarding the Killini waterway, with the completion of the location
processes, Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and Hellenic Waterways PC are
regulating 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.
- In Evia, 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 the
competent bodies giving simultaneous approval to the permits of all five
waterways in Evia.
- For the Volos waterway, following the submission of all the
application documents, the association Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and
Optimum Value await the final approval of the establishment permit from
the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
- In Tinos and Skyros, the construction works of the waterways are under
way. After the elimination 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 Spring.
- Chios, Psara and Oinousses are relaunching their implementation trajectory.
- Waterways are planned in Ereikoussa, Othonos, Mathraki, the three
beautiful islands north of Corfu. "Hellenic Waterways" has completed the
preparation of the Technical Files for the three waterways that will
submitted 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 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 starts dynamically, with 7 waterways on the island. Starting
with the Rethymnon waterway, Sitia, Heraklion, Ierapetra, Chania,
Malevizi and Agia Galini will then follow.
- On the initiative of the Peloponnese Regional Governor Mr. Nikas, the licensing of a waterway on Lake Taka began.
- Patmos continues the completion of the construction of the waterway,
after the issuance of the relevant Government Gazette for urban
planning. After the elimination of urban barriers, its construction will
be completed immediately.
- In Skopelos and Alonissos, the latest licensing documents are finalized and the construction is starting.
- The start of the licensing process is also expected 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 coasts of the Attica region.
Many waterways are on their way to completion or in the process of
licensing, but that doesn't stop Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. and Hellenic
Waterways to make their plan for the further approach of organizations
and port funds and other coastal areas or islands, to obtain a waterway
establishment permit.
The contribution of the airlines is twofold, as a Pilot Training Academy
will be created, allong with an extended cooperation, concerning the
offer of common "packages" of tickets, or the complementary operation of
the seaplanes to traditional air planes, for the transport of
passengers to or from conventional airports and to or from waterways.
