Despite the long-standing strategic rivalry between Greece and Turkey, today it was announced the opening of the first direct sea line between them, linking the coastal cities of Thessaloniki and Izmir.
The Greek-based Levante Ferries announced that its ferry "Smyrna de Levant" has started providing passenger and freight service between the two countries, in the first direct sea line between the two regional rivals.
The company said that the ferry, which can accommodate up to 948 passengers and 300 vehicles, will promote commercial interests and deepen relations between the two neighbors.
On Monday evening, the ferry sailed on its first test flight, which takes 14 hours, from Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, to Izmir, in western Turkey, carrying 35 passengers, most of whom are company employees.
It was reported that the company had invested over the past three years 16 million euros in the marine line, which provides 3 weekly flights, and is the first major direct link between Greece and Turkey.
Some of the eastern Greek islands off the Turkish coast provided some private cruises to nearby Turkish ports by small boats.
"We want to connect Europe and Asia (and) take advantage of market demand" in order to "promote maritime and tourism transport," said Greek maritime agent Yiannis Dimitriadis.
Relations between Greece and Turkey witnessed a long bitter rivalry and a series of maritime border disputes that exacerbated tension between them, amid accusations by Turkey that Greece, which is affiliated with it in NATO, is seeking to spread weapons on more than 12 islands in the Aegean Sea.
Last week, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had an exchange with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an informal European Union meeting in Prague, followed by Mitsotakis' departure for a state dinner while Erdogan was giving a speech.