With the aim of developing cruise activity in three important ports of the country, the Hellenic Property Fund is running an international tender for the port of Katakolon, part of the old port of Patras, and part of the Central Port of Kavala Apostolos Pavlos.

THE TENDER

• Section A: for the right to use, maintain, operate and exploit the old port of Patras, under the responsibility of PPA and the port of Katakolon, for a minimum duration of 30 years
• Section B: concerns the sub-concession of the right to use, maintain, operate and exploit for the development of cruise services in part of the central port of Kavala Apostolos Pavlos Pavlos, within the area of the PPA's jurisdiction, with a minimum duration of 30 years

Interested parties may express interest in only one or both parts of the tender. However, the Fund reserves the right to award the Katakolon port concession and the Patras port cruise sub-concession to different preferred investors. The closing date for expressions of interest is set for 28 February 2025.

It is noted that the ports have an approved master plan and the following characteristics: 

• The port of Katakolon was ranked among the 10 cruise ports with the highest passenger traffic in 2023, mainly due to its proximity to Ancient Olympia, and can accommodate up to 3 cruise ships over 350 m in length.
• The port of Patras is classified as a port of international importance and is part of the Trans-European Transport Network. The old port has a land area of 106,474 m2, and the existing master plan provides for one berth for cruise ships.
• The central port of Kavala has 2 berths for cruise ships over 200 metres 

RECORD

According to recent Bank of Greece data, in the ten months January–October 2024, cruise revenues—from border research alone—surpassed €1 billion for the first time (+29.4% from 2023).
In terms of traffic in 2024:

• 812 departures were recorded at PPA while 730 cruise ships were homeported.
• In Thessaloniki, 81 cruise ships called, compared to 68 cruise ships in 2023 and 61 in 2022
• In Chania, in 2024, there were a total of 144 cruise ship arrivals, 286,000 passengers and 115,000 ship crews
• In Mykonos, arrivals reached 768 with more than 1.29 million passengers, up from 749 in 2023
  In Igoumenitsa, from single-digit cruise ship arrivals by 2023, last year they reached 28

PLAN FOR THE PORTS 

• Santorini: the Hellenic Property Fund is stepping on the gas for all 3 ports of Santorini, where all the necessary studies for the construction of the new port and the accompanying works on land and coastline are underway
• Souda: As of early December 2024, the new tender for the construction of a new passenger terminal at the port of Souda was announced. The resources for the implementation of the project, with a budget of €12.29 million including VAT
• Lavrio: Within the first quarter, the next developments in the tender for the exploitation of the Lavrio Port Authority are expected. The initial plan was to dispose of 67% of the agency, but it was finally decided to proceed with the disposal of 50% plus one share in order for the state to optimally exploit any surplus value created in the region. It is recalled that the port of Lavrion is ideal for cruises and yachts due to its proximity to the Cyclades and the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, while it is the 3rd largest port in Attica. In early August, six investment schemes were pre-selected in the first phase of the tender (GEK Terna, Intercat, Jet Plan Shiipping—Aktor Concessions, GPH Cruise Port Finance—Promarine, Olympic Marine—MSC Cruises, Israel Shipyards Industries).