DEPARTMENT OF SHIPPING, TRADE & TRANSPORT

Ranking the critical parameters for the development of an islands’

passenger ferry connectivity index

Assessment of the integrated island's connectivity

Ioannis SpilanisMaria Lekakou

George Remoundos

The agendaThe agenda

The Greek Coastal Shipping

Evaluation of the maritime transport system

Ranking the critical parameters for the assessment of the islands' connectivity

Some definitionsSome definitions

Connectivity is the availability of transport that enables people and goods to reach a range of destinations at a reasonable generalised cost.

Ex ante connectivity means that the infrastructure is in place to support the relevant type of connection.

Ex post connectivity would then occur if an actual connection takes place

The Greek coastal shippingThe Greek coastal shipping

serves a complex network of mainland-to-island, island-to-island and mainland-to-mainland connections (serves about 100 islands and includes 200 ports)

ranks first among the EU Member States regarding the number of passengers traveling on domestic voyages (holding one third of the total EU annual capacity)

consists of passenger (pax) and freight-passenger (ro-pax) vessels, mainland and island ports, and coastal (multilink) and ferry (single/short-link) lines

is highly dependent on fuel prices, seasonality and tourism

faces major ongoing uncertainties

The Greek coastal shippingThe Greek coastal shipping

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport systemThe assessment of the maritime transport effectiveness must be based on: a systematic measurement of critical key performance indicators (KPIs)

a broad, continuous and representative consultation with users and stakeholders

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport systemThe three main approaches of public transport users’ views:

Usual tools of political lobbying

Formal consultation procedures

Informal participation exercises

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport systemA previous participatory experiment:

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport systemThe consultation recommendations:1. Strategic issuesReviewing and redesigning of the minimum islands’ connection requirements as well as determining of an optimal islands’ connections networkExamining and implementing joint or multimodal transport systems to and from the islandsForming joint ventures between port authorities and shipping companies Establishing a “coastal shipping observatory”

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport system2. Public service contracts system reviewReviewing of all subsidized lines concerning connections between ports of the same islandReassessing of all lines serviced with public service contracts which overlap the minima requirements of the ferry networkReconsidering of the relevant justification regarding the determination of the annual compensation of the subsidized linesReducing or even removing of certain existing subsidized lines of substantially high cost and low efficiency (mainly those calling to a big number of islands and lasting many islands or…days)

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport system3. Amendments of the statutory and legislative frameworkReconsidering of the safe manning minimum requirements Removing the requirement for shipping companies to pay a fee for keeping strategic oil reservesConsidering the ship size in the relevant national legal framework regarding the sailing prohibition due to extreme weather conditionsEnforcing mandatory early notice of all ferry routes.Improving the process of in time payment of compensation for the subsidized lines.Adopting unemployment benefits to seamen

Evaluation of the maritime Evaluation of the maritime transport systemtransport system4. Elaboration of independent studiesA Study for the reconsideration of the Minimum Island Connection Requirements in order to determine the optimal Islands’ Connections network (connectivity)A Development of a national transport strategy for all transport modes and their combinations thereof for the entire countryA 5-year horizon study for the transport system (with emphasis on maritime and air domestic transportation)

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivityThe potential (Ex Ante) and the actual (Ex Post) island's connectivity (ports' connectivity) is assessed through appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The basic references for the formulation of the KPIs are:

The geographic, demographic, social and economic conditions of the islandsThe islands' infrastructureThe available infrastructure of transportThe actual qualitative and quantitative transport data

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivityThe islands' level of connectivity in terms of passenger ferry transportation may be primarily estimated according to the following main attributes:

Passenger ferry services Islands' transport needs

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivityPassenger Ferry Services' main parameters and sub parameters:

Parameters Sub parameters

FINANCIAL COST Fare cost, Cost for accessing port, Cost of on board services

TIME Trip duration, Consistency of timetables, Access time to ports

ACCESSIBILITY Number of itineraries, Frequency of itineraries, Time of arrival and departure, Number of calls

QUALITY OF SERVICES Ship’s accommodation, On board services, Sense of safety, Information services, Easiness of ticket purchase

SOCIAL COST Ships’ environmental performance, Ships’ age, Corporate social responsibility of passenger ferries’ operators

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivityIslands' transport needs' main parameters and sub parameters:

Parameters Sub parameters

DEVELOPMENT Per capita income, Unemployment rate, Entrepreneurship rate

ATTRACTIVENESS Interest for visiting, Availability of cultural sites, touristic areas and resorts, Multitude of cultural, athletic and touristic events and activities, Availability of hosting services, Availability of catering and entertainment services

INFRASTRUCTURE Adequacy of ports, Number of interconnected destinations, Range of the internal transport network, Existence of airport facility, Lack of public services

LOCATION Remoteness and isolation, National and political priorities

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivity

Ranking of parameters and sub parameters using

Analytic Hierarchic Process (AHP)

A Questionnaire with two parts: Group A for Passenger Ferry Services and Group B for Island's Transport Needs

Pairwise comparisons of all possible matches of parameters and their sub parameters

Scale of relative importance: 1 to 9

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivity

How to feel the tables:If parameter X is considered 5 times more important than parameter Y:

If parameter Y is considered 3 times more important than parameter X:

If parameters X, Y are considered to have the same gravity:

Assessment of the islands' Assessment of the islands' connectivityconnectivity

How to feel the tables:Scale of relative Importance:

DEPARTMENT OF SHIPPING, TRADE & TRANSPORT

...Keep Ithaka always in your mind....Keep Ithaka always in your mind.Arriving there is what you are destined for... Arriving there is what you are destined for... [C.P. Cavafy, Ithaka][C.P. Cavafy, Ithaka]