Athens, October 16, 2025 — The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) has voiced concerns over structural inefficiencies and potential market distortions in Greece’s coastal shipping sector in its interim report in the ongoing sector inquiry launched in April 2025.
The report details how Greece’s ferry market, though served by 216 companies operating 299 vessels, remains concentrated — with Attica Group and Seajets jointly controlling about 60% of total passenger capacity. While deregulation since 2002 has opened routes and reduced state intervention, uneven service levels persist across islands, and fuel prices continue to weigh heavily on operators’ costs.
The HCC warned that overlapping regulatory mechanisms, high concentration levels, and weak oversight may dampen competition and affect service quality, particularly on island routes vital for connectivity and tourism. It noted that current scheduling rules and the participation of industry associations in advisory bodies could lead to coordination among rivals.
The authority’s analysis also underscores the strategic importance of coastal shipping for economic and territorial cohesion, highlighting the sector’s dual nature as both a public service and a commercial activity. It argues that policy must balance market efficiency with reliable island connectivity, particularly in off-peak seasons.
To address these risks, the authority recommended a shift to a dynamic and adaptive regulatory framework designed to strengthen competition while ensuring the financial sustainability of ferry operators. It also called for modernization of ports, renewal of the aging fleet to support the green transition, and reform of public service obligation (PSO) contracts, whose costs have surged from €10 million in 2001 to €150 million in 2025. These steps, it said, would create a fairer, more transparent, and resilient market structure.
Stakeholders are invited to submit comments by November 14, 2025, or participate in a teleconsultation to be held in early November. The feedback will inform the authority’s final report, expected in 2026.
