Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Greece will abolish remaining restrictions on non-European Union cruise ships based at Greek ports which offer round trips, Development, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Michalis Chrisochoides said.

“We want large cruise ship companies to come to Greece and to use our ports,” Chrisochoides said at a conference in Athens today. “The draft law for the full lifting of cabotage restrictions will be submitted to parliament tomorrow.”

While Greece partly lifted cabotage restrictions last year, which required ships operating in Greek waters and flying third- country flags to employ Greek sailors, cruise-ship companies still had to sign agreements with Greece lasting for as long as three years and to meet certain conditions.

These included payment of a special tax to support the welfare of Greek sailors and offering cruises that last a minimum of 48 hours.

--Editors: Chris Peterson, Alan Purkiss

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tugwell in Athens at ptugwell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Angela Cullen at acullen8@bloomberg.net