Hellenic Seaplanes Preparing Design for Elefsina Waterway

The Elefsina waterway project.

Pushing ahead for the establishment of a much-needed waterway network in Greece for more than a decade, Hellenic Seaplanes has appointed Pieris Architects to design a master plan for the creation of a waterway network in the port town of Elefsina, 20km west of Athens, to be presented to Greece’s privatization agency.

The plan will include the design of the Elefsina waterway, which will be equipped with the latest in technology, reception areas, offices and a medical ambulance unit for the immediate transfer of patients to Attica hospitals, as well as shops, restaurants, cafes and multi-cultural venues.

Studies required for the licensing of the waterway have been completed, with the head of Petrichor Capital Partners, who are funding the project with 250 million euros, expressing his company’s interest in investing in other waterway projects as well.

Petrichor funding is set to cover the purchase of amphibious aircraft, the development of small and medium-sized passenger boarding and disembarkation facilities, large passenger boarding and disembarkation facilities, one metropolitan waterway, a technical and maintenance base for seaplanes and a network of seaplane refueling stations.

Hellenic Seaplanes chairman, CEO and founder Nicolas Charalambous has repeatedly underlined the importance of the project for local communities and the national economy, as the enterprises would create employment opportunities and further boost tourism activity.

The Elefsina waterway project.

“Today there are more than 80 waterways across Greece, in the process of getting licensing and of implementation, which if carried out, will enable Greeks – starting in 2019 – to fly almost everywhere by seaplanes,” said Charalambous, adding that the operation of the waterway networks will contribute greatly to lifting remote island regions out of isolation.

Charalambous went on to note that a clear legal framework and a friendly investment environment are necessary incentives to attract investment.