Greece has confirmed a $680 million investment plan to modernize its port infrastructure, with a priority on upgrading facilities across the Greek islands.
Deputy Maritime Affairs Minister Stefanos Gkikas announced the program, stating the goal is to ensure the islands achieve competitive equality with mainland Greece and international markets.
The initiative directly addresses the long-standing issue of dilapidated, aging island ports—some of which have gone without maintenance for over three decades, leading to problems like silt accumulation, shallow channels, and crumbling piers.
Ports “antiquated and dangerous”
In August 2024, a report released by the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Captains (PEPEN) warned that many Greek ports are “antiquated and some of them are dangerous.”
The report described in detail, with maps and photos, the problems captains face in mooring ships carrying hundreds of passengers safely every day, especially during the summer months.
Among the problems described are ports that serve thousands of cars without adequate spaces for parking, ports that over the years have lost their depth and make the approach of ships a precision exercise, and the uncontrolled mooring of large yachts at the entrance of the harbors, making the approach of ships look like “threading a needle.”
The report also noted that passenger waiting areas in the ports are inadequate and in some cases non-existent. Passengers wait for long hours with little if any shade.
PEPEN said that many of the problems sound as simple as changing bulbs in headlights and turn signals. However, their importance for security is great.
Other problems are much more complex such as the construction of new projectors or the dredging of their port basin.
Funding for the upgrade of ports in Greece
The funding is primarily secured through:
$210 million from the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2021-2027 Transport program (EU and Greek funds) to upgrade 30 island ports.
An additional $93 million from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility for further regional and island port upgrades.
A major component of the plan is the green transition, estimated to cost $310 million. This includes equipping at least 12 ports with shore power (cold ironing) systems by 2029, a goal supported by the Island Decarbonization Fund.
