Greek Court Puts Three Piraeus Port Extension Projects on Hold

Photo source: OLP.

Greece’s highest court has decided to stop three key investment projects at Piraeus port after calls by residents and local governments, ANA reported.

More specifically, the Hellenic Council of State has suspended the southern extension of the port of Piraeus, which will allow large cruise ships (over 300 meters) to dock as well as two more port projects which include the extension of the Herakleous pier set to create 5,400 new parking spaces after the mayors and residents of neighboring municipalities Keratsini and Perama appealed.

The court’s decision states that in order for the projects to move forward a traffic study must be submitted providing data on the impact of traffic loads in the area.

Photo source: OLP.

It goes on to call for the submission of a comprehensive traffic study during the environmental licensing procedure which must take into account the new regulatory plan for Attica and ensure that port and cruise activities will not impact city life.

It should be noted that the master plan for the upgrade of Greece’s largest port, Piraeus, was approved earlier this year. Initially tabled by Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) managers Cosco in 2017, the 600-million-euro investment for the expansion of the port ran into obstacles back then after Greece’s Central Archaeological Council (KAS) decided to designate a significant part of Piraeus as a site of archaeological importance.

The Greek Shipping Ministry approved the plan and called for the balanced integration with the surrounding urban areas of Piraeus, Drapetsona, Keratsini, Perama and Salamina.

Piraeus port.

Works to go ahead and excluded from the decision include: the underground connection to the car terminal budgeted at 5 million euros and the expansion of the Perama shipyard.

Speaking at the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in Thessaloniki last month and at the Delphi forum, PPA SA Chairman Yu Zenggang said the expansion of the port will facilitate cruise travel which has “excellent future prospects and significant benefits to the country’s tourism industry and economies”.