Nina Kasimatis: The impunity of PPA/COSCO leads to the ruin of shipbuilding

The Vice-Chairwoman of the European Affairs Committee and MP of Piraeus SYRIZA-PS Nina Kasimatis brought to the Parliament the issue of impunity of COSCO for the daily, blatant violation of the Concession Agreement, which has resulted in the shipbuilding industry being led to ruin and destruction and the local communities of Perama, Keratsini, Drapetsona, Salamina and Piraeus respectively to unemployment, hunger and misery.

With a Parliamentary Petition submitted to the Parliament based on a Resolution of the Association of Shipbuilding Industry Enterprises (S.E.NA.VI.) and the Union of Craftsmen Employers of Machinists of Piraeus (ENO.MH.PE), which issued today after gathering at the New Mole of Drapetsona addressing the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy G. Plakiotakis, the President of PPA & Executive Board Member YU Zeng Gang, the Embassy of China in Athens, and communicating it to the Prime Minister Mr. Papapostolou, and to the Trade Union of Metal Workers of N. Piraeus. Attica & Shipbuilding Industry, Nina Kasimatis calls on the Ministers of Shipping and Insular Policy Yannis Plakiotakis, State George Gerapetritis, Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, Interior Makis Voridis, Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis, and Labour and Social Affairs Konstantinos Hatzidakis, to take action.

In particular, in their Resolution, the S.E.N.NA.VI. and ENO.MHH.PE denounce:

- The downsizing and cancellation of ship repair positions by PPA/COSCO.

- The siting by PPA/COSCO of activities unrelated to ship repair in locations traditionally used for ship repair.

- The simultaneous execution of projects by PPA/COSCO at several ship repair sites resulting in their drastic reduction and the refusal to implement a commonly agreed schedule.

- The refusal to consult, the complete intransigence and the typical Chinese colonialist behaviour.

- The occupation of a large number of repair berths by delayed or managed ships under the responsibility of PPA/COSCO.

- The Chinese mismanagement of the PPA, which drives ships away from ship repair even when there is available infrastructure.

- The blatant violation of the Concession Agreement which does not allow the shrinkage of repair sites, but instead promotes «...the provision, delivery and leasing of additional infrastructure and ship repair facilities ...., in areas that do not currently host ship repair properties..»

- The blatant violation of national and European legislation.

- The arbitrary imposition and excessive increase of fees at the expense of shipbuilding and Greek shipping by PPA/COSCO, which daily demonstrates the behaviour of an outright colonialist with complete disregard for local communities and businesses.

At the same time the PPA S.A., with today's announcement (8/12/22) on the completion of infrastructure upgrading works in the Perama Shipbuilding Zone and specifically on the East side of Pier II, attempts to present itself as contributing positively to the strengthening of the shipbuilding sector in our country, while the shipbuilding companies of Piraeus, Perama, Keratsini - Drapetsona & Salamina are experiencing the exact opposite on a daily basis.

For the above reasons, S.E.N.NA.VI. and ENO.MIX.PE request the immediate intervention of the State, in order to stop the illegal behaviour of PPA/COSCO and its destructive action for Greek businesses and local communities, stating that «the Silk Road ends at Piraeus», as the patience of businesses and workers has run out.