The Master Plan for the Development of the Port of Rafina has created concern among citizens regarding the ability of the area to cope with the increased traffic that the increase in berths will create in the area. Thus, they demand that the basic road and rail infrastructure projects (extension of the Attica Road and the suburban railway) be completed beforehand.

During the public consultation of the Master Plan, the above concern was expressed, and it is considered that the approval of the Master Plan will also act as a lever of effective pressure towards the construction of these projects.

MASTER PLAN FOR RAFINA

SAFETY

Sources at the Hellenic Ministry of Finance note that any change in the design of these expansions would mean a reamendment of the Master Plan, withdrawal of the consulted SEA, cancellation of the current licensing procedure, and the start of a new one. This would set the whole process back at least a year, as the ESAL would have to be consulted again and would risk losing funding for important projects, especially those intended to improve the quality of life of local residents and port users.

GREEN TRANSITION

The Hellenic Funding Agency has secured €10 million of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding for the development of cold ironing infrastructure and related studies for 4 port authorities (Rafina, Lavrio, Kavala, and Corfu), which aim at the sustainable transformation of the ports, which is a primary objective for the entire port system. EU Member States, resulting in an improvement in the quality of life of the inhabitants of Rafina and the surrounding areas. 

The Port of Rafina will be allocated funds over the next four years for the construction of four cold-ironing sites at four shore-service locations in the Port of Rafina. The partners in the proposal are the four ports, the Hellenic State Development Fund, DEDDEO, NTUA, and the companies Protasis, Hydrus, and Gates. This will help to reduce the carbon footprint, fuel consumption, and noise from ships, and, in addition to protecting the environment, it will also boost employment. 

MODERNIZATION 

However, in order to implement the projects for the cold ironing facilities, the master plan must first be approved within a reasonable and immediate timeframe; otherwise, there is a risk of a significant increase in the number of projects. there is a risk of losing their funding.

Modernization of the port: Basic construction and provisions for user facilities provide for: 

• construction of a modern passenger terminal in the main port (2 800 m2 ) and a 5 100 m2 car park
  with a total capacity of 210 vehicles.
• reservation of the area for the construction of the building of the suburban railway terminus, with a surface area of 1,500 m2.
• landscaping of the surrounding area with green zones on the natural slope above the shops of Rafina Port (Sporoula woodland) and the undeveloped surrounding area opposite Post Office Square after the demolition that took place in May 2024
• promotion of electrification by studying places where electric chargers for cars and buses can be installed
• implementation of an environmental management system
  monitoring and evaluation system.