Piraeus master plan gets 10-day extension for public deliberation

Piraeus, Greece (Ports Europe) February 22, 2018 - A master plan submitted last month by the Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA) for the revamp of the port has generated concerns by the affected municipalities which must be examined before it is approved, the Port Planning and Development Committee said on February 20, 2018, extending the period for public deliberation by 10 days. “Given that the consultation procedure for the submitted PPA master plan has not been fully implemented, the committee considers it appropriate to complete it within 10 working days, by March 3, 2018. To this end, consultation bodies should be provided with the necessary material in order to be able to comment on them,” the committee said. According to the concession agreement, PPA is required to consider the proposals made by affected municipalities but not obligated to adopt these. However, should PPA accept the proposals, it will be required to submit an amended plan providing explanation for those rejected. At the same time, shipping ministry sources told the Athens News Agency that the plan is bound to run into obstacles as a series of environmental impact studies must be approved before it can get the green light. The same sources expressed optimism however that the ambitious plan will move ahead in three months’ time after issues tabled by municipal authorities are addressed. Upgrade works budgeted at some €500 million as laid out in the master plan aim to establish the port into the largest shipbuilding base in the eastern Mediterranean, with the capacity of servicing up to 450 vessels a year, including mega yachts. They also include the construction of four new hotels – among these the landmark “Pagoda” building – a new cruise terminal accommodating up to six cruise ships and a shopping center next to the new cruise terminal. Also, Cosco-controlled PPA has challenged the state-owned Public Authority of Piraeus Port (DALP), saying that it still disputes the privatisation of PPA and its operation. In a letter dated February 5, which was sent to the ministers of finance and shipping and the presidents of state sell-off fund TAIPED and the Regulatory Authority for Ports, PPA claims that DALP chief Dimosthenis Bakopoulos “is trying to subrogate the PPA administration of and intervenes in the management of the port, which is not only illegal but also goes against the implementation of our company’s investment program.” PPA added that the state regulator is creating “serious confusion as to the competences and rights of the PPA administration.” The issue arose from DALP’s move to invite various entities and port users to a consultation on the Piraeus Port Master Plan, which according to PPA has no legal grounds. At the same time, the Port Planning and Development Committee announced that the period for public deliberation will be extended by 10 days. Cosco’s aim is to turn the port of Piraeus into a major home port for cruise ships, with the target being 580,000 passengers – of whom 100,000 will be Chinese holiday-makers – using the port as a starting point every year. Cosco’s master plan includes new hotels and commercial activities (mall) within the PPA premises, among others. Cosco plans to transform Piraeus into the largest ship-repair and ship-building hub in the east Mediterranean, and a key port in China’s new Silk Road economic trade strategy. The fourth axis is to continue to upgrade port facilities (parking space, port deepening, more shops within port premises) for ferry boat passengers travelling to and from various Aegean islands. PPA is operated by China's COSCO Shipping Ports Limited. Source: Greek Travel Pages Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2018.

Piraeus master plan gets 10-day extension for public deliberation

All news

EU delegation visits Gioia Tauro port to see anti-drug efforts

Table: Russian ports monthly cargo results Oct’23-Oct’24

Russian ports handled 743 mln tonnes of cargo Jan-Oct’24

Reference: Russian occupation of neighbours’ territory

HHLA reports positive growth in the first nine months of 2024

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports

Piraeus master plan gets 10-day extension for public deliberation

Share this news:

All news

EU delegation visits Gioia Tauro port to see anti-drug efforts

Table: Russian ports monthly cargo results Oct’23-Oct’24

Russian ports handled 743 mln tonnes of cargo Jan-Oct’24

Reference: Russian occupation of neighbours’ territory

HHLA reports positive growth in the first nine months of 2024

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports