Source: CNA
The launch of the ferry link service between Limassol and Piraeus occurred this Sunday amid great fanfare led by the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anita Demetriou, and various other Ministers.
In his speech, the President said that "the strong bond that connects the people of Cyprus with Greece through shipping has, at last, been re-established in a more efficient way, giving people the opportunity for an easier way to travel on holiday".
"the strong bond that connects the people of Cyprus with Greece through shipping has been re-established in a more efficient way, giving people the opportunity for an easier way to travel on holiday".
The ceremony took place at the Limassol Port, to mark the relaunch of the ferry link between the two countries, 21 years after it was interrupted, on the occasion of the first trip of the M/V Daleela, the vessel that will be running the service, until mid-September.
Anastasiades said that, after 20 years, it had become possible to reconnect Cyprus with Greece due to the persistent efforts of the Government, including MPs, not to mention the efforts made by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, both the former Deputy Minister, Natasa Pilides, and her successor, Vassilios Demetriades, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and Government departments in general.
According to Anastasiades, the Government was aware that this ferry route would not be profitable, therefore, state assistance would be necessary with additional subsidies from the EU in order to make the dream a reality.
Deputy Minister of Shipping, Vassilios Demetriades, said this was “an important and blessed day” for shipping and Cypriot shipping in general. In his own speech, Demetriades said, among other things, that the ferry connection between Limassol and Piraeus is one of the 35 sustainable actions of the strategic vision of his Deputy Ministry. "Since the day we drew up our strategic plan, more than 60% of these actions were implemented or are in the process of being implemented," he said.
For his part, the Mayor of Limassol, Nicos Nicolaides referred to “a historic day”, which, he said, will add to the great momentum that has begun in the city in recent years to upgrade cruises, “making Limassol an important regional maritime transport hub.”
The ceremony was attended by Speaker of Parliament, Anita Demetriou, Minister of Energy, Natasa Pilides, Minister of Transport Yiannis Karousos, Greece’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Ioannis Papameletiou, MPs, party representatives and others.
