Drop in coastal shipping
Coastal shipping passenger traffic posted a 3.9 percent drop between June and August, the most crucial period for the industry’s profits, according to Merchant Marine Ministry data issued yesterday. According to official figures, passengers numbered 4,779,133 this year (from June to August 26), against 4,973,067 passengers in the same period of 2007. In the three months that account for 55 percent of the year’s average traffic, there was also a decline of 4 percent in cars travelling by ferries but also growth of 4.9 percent in the number of trucks travelling on ferries from the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion to the Aegean islands. These figures do not include trips to the Argosaronic islands such as Aegina and Poros. The decline in passenger traffic is partly attributed to the 6.7 percent drop in the number of itineraries offered, as companies have tried to cut their operating costs by restructuring their schedules. Another reason of course is the rise in coastal shipping fares.
