Strong protest by freight and logistics associations over increased ferry freight fares – Joint letter to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs
PRESS RELEASES28 May 2025
Athens, 27 May 2025
Six major professional associations representing road transport and logistics in Greece have jointly addressed a letter to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias, expressing their strong dissatisfaction and deep concern regarding the recent sharp increases in ferry freight fares.
The associations — including OFAE, the Federation of Truck Owners of Western Greece, the Central Mainland and Peloponnese, PEED, EESYM, the Hellenic Logistics Company (EEL), and SΥNDDE&L — highlight that the latest increases in domestic ferry routes, which reached up to 12% as of 15 May 2025, significantly raise the cost of transporting goods to and from the islands. These hikes come at a critical time, during the peak tourist season.
A similar situation is reported on international ferry routes to Italy, where ongoing fare increases are severely undermining the competitiveness of Greek freight operators in the European market.
The associations are calling on the government to:
The letter stresses that these increases cannot be seen in isolation, but as part of a broader pattern of rising operational costs, which are threatening the viability of transport and logistics businesses. It also emphasizes the lack of viable alternatives or compensatory measures, and calls for equal treatment of the road freight sector, which also bears the burden of compliance with EU environmental regulations, unlike the oligopolistic structure of the ferry sector.
The letter has also been copied to the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Ministers of State, Transport & Infrastructure, and Development.