The decision comes after local businessmen on the island of Limnos formally complained to the government about severe delays in NEL’s service that was hampering their business.

A decree signed by shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis cancels NEL’s right to run a route from the northern ports of Thessaloniki and Kavala to the islands of Limnos, Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Ikaria.

Sea Link is barred from running the Lavrion-Psara-Chios line.

NEL