In the announcement of the project entitled “Provision of legal, technical and financial consultancy services for the maturation and implementation of the Project Plan for replacing the maritime passenger fleet and reducing the CO2 footprint”, the Ministry of the Navy and Insular Policy, in collaboration with the Strategy Unit, continued the TAIPED contracts, with the aim of the green transition of coastal navigation and the complete renewal of the coastal navigation fleet.
To this end, the “kick-off” for the start of the study took place today, in the presence of Minister Christos Stylianidis, as stated in a statement from the Ministry of Navigation.
The preliminary study has an execution horizon of eight months, with a budget of 1,171,555.10 euros.
The aim of the project is to evaluate the available technological and technical solutions that can be applied, individually or in combination, for the renewal and energy modernization of the cabotage fleet, based on technical and economic criteria, as well as safety criteria.
The final outcome of the project will be the design of the financing tool/mechanism to facilitate operators’ access to debt financing and other financial instruments.
As highlighted by the Ministry of the Navy, the study is a prerequisite for starting any negotiations with the Directorates-General of the European Commission, both regarding the eligibility of loan financing with EU funds and the compatibility of such a project with state aid rules.
Cr. Stylianidis: The start of the fleet modernization project is a milestone for coastal shipping
In his statement, Minister of Maritime and Insular Policy Christos Stylianidis said that “the start of the fleet modernization project is a milestone for our country’s coastal shipping. Our goal is to transition to a new era with modern, safe and environmentally friendly vessels that will use clean fuels and reduce their energy footprint.”
“This project is not only an investment in the future of coastal shipping, but also a practical commitment to protecting the environment and improving transport and the quality of life of our islanders. We are moving forward with determination to transform the country’s coastal shipping fleet, as well as the port system, into a model of sustainability and innovation, ensuring economic growth, safe transport and sustainability across all coastal shipping links,” added the Minister.
The structure of the contracting company, heads of the Strategic Contracts Unit of TAIPED, the Ministry of Navy and Insular Policy and the Personnel Structure of NSPA-YNANP were present at the meeting.