Greece Launches International Tender to Boost Cruise Activity at Three Key Ports

Photo source: Port of Katakolon

The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRDAF or TAIPED in Greek) recently initiated an international tender process to enhance cruise activity at three significant Greek ports.

According to an announcement, the goal is to leverage the unique advantages of the locations of Katakolon, Patras and Kavala and elevate them as prominent tourism destinations.

The tender for the development of cruise activities includes two sections:

The first section covers:

– The concession of the right to use, maintain, operate, and exploit the Port of Katakolon.
– The sub-concession of the right to use, maintain, operate, and exploit a segment of the old port of Patras, currently managed by the Port Authority of Patras S.A.

Both agreements will have a minimum duration of 30 years.

The second section involves the sub-concession of the right to use, maintain, operate, and exploit the central port of Kavala, “Apostolos Pavlos”, specifically for cruise development. The Kavala Port Authority S.A. manages this port, and the agreement will also has a minimum duration of 30 years.

Interested parties may submit an expression of interest for one or both sections of the tender.

Tender process

Port of Kavala.

The tender will unfold in two phases (Phase A: Prequalification and Phase B: Submission of binding offers).

HRADF reserves the right in Phase B to separate the elements of the first section and award the Port of Katakolon Concession Agreement and the Port of Patras Cruise Sub-concession Agreement to different preferred investors.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by February 28, 2025.

“The further development of cruise activity and the establishment of new destinations aligns with the policy to streamline and distribute increasing tourist flows at popular cruise ports,” the HRADF said in the announcement.

Key destinations

Photo source: Port of Katakolon

Port of Katakolon: Located near Ancient Olympia, the port of Katakolon ranked among Greece’s top 10 cruise ports in 2023, with 206 cruise ships and 390,153 passengers. The port can accommodate up to three cruise ships exceeding 350 meters in length.

Port of Patras: Recognized as a port of international importance and part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the old port of Patras spans 106,474 square meters. The master plan includes dedicated berths for cruise ships. In 2023, 13 cruise vessels arrived at Patras, bringing 800 passengers.

Port of Kavala, “Apostolos Pavlos”: The central port of Kavala features two berths for cruise ships longer than 200 meters. In 2023, passenger traffic reached 21,052 across 36 cruise ships, placing Kavala among Greece’s top 20 cruise ports.

Patras Port, Greece.

HRADF is a member of Growthfund, Greece’s national investment fund.