Piraeus, 03.10.2013
Press Release
1. PPA SA participated in the Seatrade Europe conference which took place in Hamburg, Germany and in the International Cruise Exhibition, led by the General Director of the company Mr. Stavros Chatzakos, who was keynote speaker at the Cruise Conference. In the exhibition 250 exhibitors from 50 countries participated, along with 270 Cruise members, who decide on the strategies of the industry, and 4.000 attendants.
The conclusion of the conference was that the growth prospects of the European cruise industry continues to grow, while at the opening session the President of CLIA / Europe Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio said that the cruises have a “vital countercyclical role during the economic recession”. He added: “This is especially true on the economic impact of the cruise for the European economy”.
2. The PPA participated in the Meeting of the Executive Committee of ESPO in Dublin on the new Regulation, establishing a framework on access to port services and financial transparency of ports (COM (2013) 296 final 2013/0157 (COD). The meeting ended with a hard copy proposal of ESPO which will be given to the EU Commission
It is noted that in the Directive, which will be discussed during the Greek Presidency, there are issues to be discussed such as:
• Independent Regulatory Authority
• The pricing of infrastructure
• The dredging of Ports
• The provision of services and Access procedures to ports
• Relationships with port users etc.
From the Greek side, Professor Thanos Pallis, General Secretary of MedCruise, participated as speaker and as a representative of PPA SA the General Director Mr. Stavros Chatzakos.
3. In homage to the companies and their cruise representatives, the Municipal Port Authority of Mykonos is organizing events, on Saturday 5th October 2013 with the occasion of this year's positive tourist season, which will be attended by the President of the Hellenic Ports Association (Elime) Mr. George Anomeritis, the President of MedCruise Mr. St. Chatzakos and Cruise Director Mr. T. Tsitouras, who will all be speaking. The guests, along with the Mayor of Mykonos, will visit the cruise ship “Queen Elisabeth” and deliver to its Captain gifts in token of friendship and appreciation to all cruise companies, while the City will welcome cruise representatives at the hotel Lito.
As the President and CEO of PPA SA, Mr. George Anomeritis commented, “a major new growth is seen with the arrivals/departures of cruisers at the Port of Piraeus in September, of 14.94%. It is characteristic that a significant increase is present in the homeporting arrivals/departures (30.33%), whereas there is also an increase in transit arrivals/departures (12.21%)”.
The PPA, which this year has made every effort to upgrade the quality of service to passengers and ships, will present in detail at the Cruise Meeting (17th October) the analytical results of the first 9 months of 2013 and the anticipated 2014 cruise itineraries.
