The increase in the cost of wages, the increase in the price of spare ships and marine fuels, as well as the increase in bank lending rates for shipping companies, it is impossible for now to talk about any reduction in the price of ferry tickets. This is what the president of the Association of Passenger Shipping Businesses, Dionysis Theodoratos, pointed out while talking to APE-MPE, saying that the last increase in coastal ferry tickets was about 15% and happened in 2022.
It also points out that based on the figures of April 2024 the prices of shortshore fuel for HSFO and VLSFO types used in conventional ships increased by 9%, the cost of spare parts by 14% and in 24 % from the 2021 salary of the crew, based on the relevant collective labor agreements signed so far.
He also noted that the cost of bank borrowing due to the increase in interest rates from banks increased by 43% in 2024 compared to 2021.
The representative of the liners said that from 01/05/2025 based on the European regulation the use of fuel with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1% is mandatory, which will lead to many liner companies not using scrubbers in their ships when they buy. fuel increased by 35%.
Mr. Theodoratos, commenting on the reports talking about the “super profit of the ferry companies” said that the net profit of the total turnover is currently about 4% to 6% when other sectors related to tourism, such as car rental, is at 10. % and hotels at 10 to 11%.
The President of the Association of Shipping Banking & Finance Executives and Founder and CEO of XRTC Business Consultants Giorgos Xiradakis points out that despite the fact that shipping companies have shown in the past that they want to adapt to pure social behavior and reduce prices on ferry tickets, we must admit that some of their costs remain high. He also emphasized that for many shipping companies, a stable financial period from now is necessary because to enter the “green” transition, high investment is required, while banks, for their part, need clean and useful. balance sheets to provide loans.
However, he added that on the other hand the state must be very careful how it deals with monopoly interests while maintaining competitive pressures that in themselves may bring lower that fare. Mr. Xiradakis added that it is the duty of the market regulator, which is the state, to protect the economic environment of competition, because fares can fall while they rise.
The green transition is “exact”.
As the president of the coastal lines, Mr. Dionysis Theodoratos, explained, in the context of the change of the coastal shipping fleet towards the “green” transition for 2024, the average age of the ships serving coastal shipping lines for over 30 years. .
It stated that out of a total of 115 ships, 50 of them (43.5%) are over 30 years old, while their average age in 2030 is 36 years old and there are 15 ships over 50 years old.
He added that within the framework of the package of measures entitled “Fit for 55” for the climate approved in 2023 by the European Commission, a series of EU legislation regarding Shipping has been changed, as gradually the expansion of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) in maritime transport in 2026 and the expected difficulties in complying with the new legislation on clean fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative) which are estimated to increase the operating costs of the shipping industry .
“Shipping companies are obliged to purchase certificates and submit them for 40% in 2024, 70% in 2025 and 100% of their verified emissions based on the MRV regulation from 2026, while for Greece the obligation is on the ferry lines to / from. Crete and the Adriatic” he said.
He also emphasized that scheduled coastal shipping lines connecting islands with a population of less than 200 thousand permanent residents to other ports in the same country are exempt. of this obligation until 2030. “If there is no change in the fleet, the inclusion of SEDE will impose a burden on the operational costs of the fleet” he emphasized.
Fares at the same level from 2022
According to the data provided to APE-MPE by the president of SEEN, Mr. Dionysis Theodoratos, the economy class with an individual ticket and a conventional ferry on the Piraeus Syros route in 2024, 2023 and 2022 is 45.50 euros.
- On the Piraeus-Tinos line, the individual ticket with a regular ferry in 2022 and 2023 is 49 euros, while in 2024 it is 38.50 euros.
- On the Piraeus-Paros line, the individual ticket with regular ferries is 50 euros in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
- Besides, on the Piraeus-Santorini route, the individual ticket is 58 euros in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
- For the Piraeus-Rhodes line, the individual ticket with a regular ferry is 91 euros for 2022-2023-2024.
- For August routes where passenger traffic is increased in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the individual cabin fare on the Piraeus-Mytilini line is 90 euros per person, on the Piraeus-Chios line on 82.50 euros, on Piraeus-Rodos for 139 euros. , on the line Piraeus-Santorini for 105 euros, on the line Piraeus-Chania for 124 euros on the line Piraeus-Patmos for 118.50 on the line Piraeus-Heraklion for 96 euros and on the line Piraeus-Kos for 126.50.
- For high-speed ferries in 2023 and 2024, the economy class per person on a high-speed ferry on the route Naxos-Folegandros is 76.70 euros on the route Naxos-Santorini, 59.70 euros on the route Naxos -Mykonos, 57.70 euros in 2024. and 49 .70 in 2023 on the Mykonos-Amorgos line to 98.70 euros in 2023 and 89.70 in 2024, on the Milos-Amorgos line to 105.70 and on the Milos-Santorini line to 103.70 euros in 93,202 and in 2023.
The Vivanoda online platform reports that Greece is in 11th place in Europe as the most expensive country to travel by ship (in 2023).
Taking the average price per person for a 100km trip, Turkey is in first place, followed by the United Kingdom, Iceland, Morocco, Italy, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Malta, and Greece in 11th that place.
The price index for ferry routes on the coast of Greece increased by 3.6% compared to 2023.
The ferry routes from Turkey to the Greek islands (especially the Chios – Cesme route) are the most expensive, while the Italian routes are the cheapest.
Patras and Igoumenitsa from Venice or Ancona, as well as the route between Mykonos and Lemnos is one of the cheapest ferry routes in the country.
Increase in passenger ferry traffic
There was an 8.1% increase in passenger traffic in the first five months of 2024 by coastal vessels compared to the same period in 2023.
In particular, 3,100,541 passengers traveled aboard coastal ships to various destinations from 01/01/2024 to 05/31/2024 compared to 2,868,768 passengers in the same period last year.
In the vehicle segment there was an increase of 7.2% because in the first five months of 2024 a total of 430,258 vehicles were sold compared to 401,430 cars in the same period of 2023.
Also in the truck sector from 01/01/2024 to 05/31/2024 216,519 heavy vehicles were sold against 209,750 in the same period in 2023