Crete: Tender Opens for New Passenger Terminal at Souda Port in Chania

An impression of the new terminal at Souda Port. Photos source: Dora Bakoyannis

A tender for the construction of a new passenger terminal at the port of Souda in Chania, Crete, has been launched by the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, in collaboration with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund’s (HRADF) Project Preparation Facility (PPF).

The ministry selected the Project Preparation Facility to oversee the maturation of the tendering process and ensure the execution of contracts throughout the project’s development.

The deadline for submitting offers is Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 11am.

The project, with a total budget of 12.29 million, is funded by the National Strategic Plan for Recovery and Resilience “Greece 2.0”, supported by the European Union through NextGeneration EU.

The new passenger terminal at Souda port will span four floors, including a basement, and will be organized into three main sections:

Ground floor: This will feature public areas, check-in facilities, offices, a customs office, a tourist police office, and hygiene facilities.

Passenger hall: A large hall designed for both coastal shipping and cruise ship passengers, featuring security equipment such as metal detectors, as well as additional hygiene facilities.

Upper deck: An open area where passengers can embark on ships, offering a panoramic view of Souda Bay before departure.

This project aims to enhance the operational capacity and quality of Souda port, further promoting tourism development in Chania.

Dora Bakoyannis, the Greek parliament member for Chania, highlighted on social media that the new terminal will be “an iconic, developmental project for the region—a long-awaited dream that will play a pivotal role in the port’s operations, easing access for coastal and cruise passengers”.

She added that “this project was methodically planned and funded through the Recovery Facility to be completed as soon as possible”.