Greek Shipowners Gift Boats To Coast Guard

Greek shipowners apparently gifted two high-speed boats for the Coast Guard's underwater missions, in the framework of showing that they are sympathetic to the difficulties that the Greek people are facing. The 700,000- euro gift by the Union of Greek Shipowners was presented to the government at the Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean at the Vassiliadis section of Greece's main port of Piraeus.

Some would say that this was an act of kindness, and it is, but considering how much money these shipowners save from not paying taxes to the Greek state then we here at HellasFrappe can boldly say that they got off cheap! Nonetheless, their donation to the poor and suffering Greek state is appreciated. The boats are expected to assist the unit of underwater missions with eradicating any illegal acts in Greek waters and help the Coast Guard in its systematic and arduous efforts of patrolling the sea borders of Greece.

At the presentation earlier this week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras affirmed his commitment to the Shipping and Aegean Ministry, and noted that "for Greece not to have a Shipping Ministry is like Saudi Arabia not having an Oil Ministry."

    "Today I am at the headquarters of Greek shipping which we built after great effort and whose reconstitution was affirmed two days ago by the drafting and voting of the relevant draft bill," he dded.

Prior to his speech, the premier was given a tour of the search and rescue centre at the Coast Guard and briefed on its operations, including those dealing with illegal migrants in the eastern Aegean.