The port infrastructure of Laconia shows signs of under-use, abandonment and obsolescence, an image that is in no way consistent with the importance and the key importance of the prefecture's development, both in tourism and in primary production, with the excellent catches available in the Laconian Gulf.
The underperformance of the ports of Gytheio and Elafonisos and the fishing shelters Kokkinia Glykovrisi and Ag. Giannakis - Skala and the weakness in which have fallen both the state body that is the Port Fund of Laconia, unable to cope with the basic obligations, and the Municipal Port Fund, prove that in recent years has not done the slightest to strengthen and upgrade them.
All the above issues are raised, in a Question submitted to the Minister of Shipping, by the MP of Laconia of SYRIZA-P.S. Stavros Arachovitis with the support and signature of the responsible Party Minister, Nek. Santoriniou.
Below is the full text of the Question:
17.01.2022
QUESTION
To the Minister of Shipping & Island Policy
Subject: «Image of under-utilization, abandonment and devaluation in the port infrastructure of Laconia»
The port infrastructure of Laconia is underused, abandoned and obsolete. The state management and operating body, the LAKONIA MARINE TAMEIO, no longer has the resources and the means to maintain and exploit the infrastructure. The same is true of the Municipal Port Fund, which has taken over the management and operation of the port of Gythio.
More specifically, the port of Gythio, five (5) years after the completion of the expansion works at a cost of approximately 20,000,000 euros, has not performed as expected as a port of supra-regional character and major interest and has not met the expectations of local stakeholders to contribute to the development and economy of the wider region of Laconia, both in the tourism sector and in the primary sector and the food processing industry of the prefecture of Laconia.
The port of Elafonisos, operates with incomplete and unlicensed facilities, raising reasonable questions about legality, proper operation, safety and loss of revenue.
The fishing shelter of Kokkinia Glykovrisi in the Municipality of Eurotas is facing serious problems. It has been overrun and has literally disappeared and with it the EUR 2 million that have been spent. It needs generous funding for its essential maintenance in order to fulfil its role as a shelter for small fishing boats in the Gulf of Laconia.
Finally, there are other scattered port facilities that either operate under the responsibility of the Local Authorities or the “supervision’ of fishing clubs, with a typical example being the fishing anchorage at Ag.
However, most of the above issues are not addressed and a coherent port policy cannot be drawn up in Laconia, due to the devaluation, weakness and underfunctioning of the state body, which is the Laconia Port Fund, which after the handover of the Port of Gythio to the Municipality of An. Mani, lacks revenue, staff and infrastructure, even office, unable to meet its basic obligations. A similar picture of underfunctioning, understaffing and underfunding presents the Municipal Port Fund, as in recent years no act of substantial strengthening has been done.
In the last famous period there has been an intense activity in the Laconian Gulf with the entry, anchoring and staying of large overseas commercial vessels. This activity is of concern to the society of Laconia, especially after the incident of the collision of the two vessels at Cape Malea and their transfer within the Gulf of Laconia, in the area of Neapolis on 13 March 2021.
Because the port infrastructure is of key importance for the development of Laconia in both tourism and primary production,
Because the underfunctioning of the Port Funds creates issues of legitimacy, operation and development of the port infrastructure and their areas of responsibility,
Because the Gulf of Laconia is developing in terms of tourism and at the same time has excellent fish,
The Minister is asked:
1) What do you intend to do for the legal, safe, orderly and efficient operation of the port facilities of Laconia? ;
2) Has the delivery process of the port of Gythio been completed?;
3) The prerequisite has been submitted master plan;
4) What do you intend to do about the issue of the port of Elafonissos?;
5) How will the situation at the Fishing Reserve - Kokkinia - Glikovrisi of the Municipality of Eurotas be addressed?;
6) What do you intend to do with the state body “Laconia Port Fund”?;
7) Is there a specific strategy for the powers, responsibilities, staffing, funding and generally for the operation of the port funds? And if so, what is it and how is it reflected in the case of Laconia?;
8) How safe and legal is the entry and anchoring of large commercial vessels within the Gulf of Laconia?;
The questioning MPs
Arachovitis Stavros
Santorini Nektarios
