4 Greek ports secured EU financing for the implementation of infrastructure upgrades.
The major ports in Greece, including Piraeus (Athens), Igoumenitsa, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion (Crete) are to get upgrades using European funds. A separate process is underway to optimize the infrastructure of a 5th port, the port of Alexandroupolis, because of its major geostrategic nature.
A total of 6 infrastructure improvement projects were approved for EU financing from the "Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027" fund.
3 of the projects will benefit the port of Piraeus, and they include port facilities to provide digital technology for Just-in-Time arrival; shore power to ships using hybrid propulsion technology; and the SMILE project for the use of digital data to promote sustainable logistics.
The port of Thessaloniki, in the North of the country, asked for financing to restore minimum depths/dock 6 infrastructure.
The port of Igoumenitsa in north-western Greece will be creating energy infrastructure to reduce the carbon footprint, including supplying electricity to ships while docked in the port.
The port of Heraklion, in the South, on the island of Crete, submitted a plan for improving the container terminal, and also for supplying electricity to ships that carry controlled temperature containers.
As for port Alexandroupolis, in the northeast, an interministerial strategic investments committee is to be in charge of a separate process to carry out infrastructural improvements.
The General Secretariat for Ports and Naval Investments prepared a plan for restoring the minimum depths in the Alexandroupolis port channel, up to a distance of 2,5 km, so that large warships can dock.
Additional road works within the port's area are expected to facilitate the transport of cargo. A highway is being constructed to link the port with Egnatia Highway, and there are plans to optimize the port’s lighting with the use of LED lights.
A tender for the privatization of the state-owned Port Alexandroupolis (near the border with Turkey) was canceled in November 2022, due to the port’s geostrategic importance.