The Port Authority will acquire 11 boats for transfers of patients to hospitals, following an agreement signed on Monday by Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Christos Stylianides and by Norsafe Life-Saving Equipment Hellas General Manager Ioannis Georgiadis.
In a statement, the ministry said he boats will be over 11 meters long, and will serve to transport patients from the islands of Thassos, Psara, Agios Efstratios, Fourni, Kea, Lipsi, Kassos, and Zakynthos, as well as from North Evia and the Cretan cities of Sfakia and Ierapetra.
The agreement’s total value is 6,598,900 euros and will be jointly funded by national and European Union sources.
According to the ministry, the boats will be constructed of specially enforced material, be all weather vessels, and contain a special door allowing the transfer of patients on wheeled stretchers inside. The two marine-type diesel engines on each boat will allow maximum speeds exceeding 40 knots, while their radius of operation will exceed 300 nautical miles, the ministry said.
