Ferry routes to be recast
The government is poised to redesign the country?s ferry routes as of the 2013-2014 period, sources said Monday, with the introduction of a new authority.
The Ports Regulatory Authority will group routes according to regions that include unprofitable and subsidized lines. It will then issue international tenders per region.
Sources said the new system aims to improve services and save the state money, as subsidies will be lower.
According to ferry operators? data, the industry lost more than five million passengers in the 2009-2011 period and more than 1.5 million vehicles. The trend continued in July, when passenger traffic dropped to 930,300 from 1,125,050 in the same month last year.
