Technical reliability of the Greek coastal passenger fleet

Ship reliability is a vital component of quality in passenger shipping, since serious shipboard equipment failures hinder ship seaworthiness and inevitably lead to delays with apparent detrimental effects upon the “value-of-time” and “just-in-time” properties of this transportation system. Throughout the history of modern Greece, the Greek coastal passenger system constituted the most vital mode of transport for the national economy and integrity. Furthermore, at a time such as the forthcoming 2004 Summer Olympics, Greek coastal passenger shipping will be called upon to play a major role in the success of the Games and in the promotion of the international image of the host country. esent work focuses on the reliability of the Greek coastal passenger fleet, through reference to a period of transition (1996–2002) and lines (Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio) of acknowledged significance. In this respect, it attempts to capture the influence of various factors upon the reliability of the fleet, through the presentation and analysis of data and results relevant to reported shipboard equipment failures, fleet characteristics and transport work performed. sults generally reveal a steady trend of fleet reliability improvement, amidst a continually increasing transport demand. However, the influence of the observed fleet renewal and certain network characteristics allow for further improvement through the implementation of appropriate policy measures.