Greece, Cyprus resume maritime travel after 21 years
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Greece and Cyprus have resumed maritime travel after a hiatus that lasted for over two decades, and the ceremony was attended by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.
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The fully renovated Cypriot Daleela ferry
A commercial ferry departed from Cyprus for Greece on Sunday, the first in over two decades, marking the resumption of bilateral commercial travel by sea.
Cypriot-flagged Daleela ferry, operated by Scandro Holding, departed from the port of Limassol to Piraeus at 9 am GMT, Cypriot broadcaster Sigma TV reported.
President Nicos Anastasiades attended the pre-departure ceremony in Limassol, where he underlined the importance of the resumption of maritime travel with Greece, calling the event "historic". He also noted that the government worked hard to make this possible.
"We know that this is not a profitable business, therefore the government must help. We have made efforts at the EU level to receive subsidies," Anastasiades said at the ceremony.
The 30-hour-long trip carried 173 passengers, including Cypriot ministers, the mayor of Limassol, members of Parliament, and journalists.
The renovated ship was built in 1991, and it has the capacity of carrying 400 passengers and 100 cars, with 38 first-class cabins that could fit 110 passengers, 68 second-class cabins for 180 passengers, and 110 aircraft-type seats.
It also has various entertainment facilities, such as a cafe, restaurant, and playground.
