It was founded as the
Mercantile Marine Ministry () in 1936. On 19 September 2007, it was merged with the
Ministry for the Aegean and Island Policy () to form the
Mercantile Marine, Aegean and Island Policy Ministry (). The latter was abolished on 7 October 2009 and the shipping portfolio fell under the new
Ministry of the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping. It was re-established as the
Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries () on 30 September 2010, but was again abolished on 27 June 2011 and merged with the Ministry of Regional Development and Competitiveness to form the Ministry of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping. It was re-established as the
Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean ) on 21 June 2012, but was again abolished on 26 January 2015 and merged into the
Ministry of the Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism. On 23 September 2015, it was re-established as the
Μinistry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in the
Second Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras. == Functions ==