What changed
2026-07-26 15:58 UTC → 2026-07-30 15:12 UTC ·
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Greek transport hub expands north‑south maritime integration
Through By mid‑2026 Greece continued its Greece’s transport‑modernisation programme, linking programme linked shipping, shipbuilding and inland logistics. A Bank of Greece study highlighted that tighter integration of the merchant fleet—holding >16 % of global tonnage but only ≈10 % under the Greek flag—with domestic yards could boost value‑added output and high‑spec exports. Deputy Minister Kostas Gkioulas launched logistics, with the “Maritime Hellas” initiative at the 7th Balkan Forum in Thessaloniki, positioning the region as a multimodal hub and earmarking designating Kavala and Alexandroupoli as key logistics and energy nodes. The forum, held 6 July, drew more than 40 speakers nodes and saw European Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tsitsikos call for stronger rail‑road links. Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias announced a €200 million expansion of Thessaloniki’s sixth pier; the first caisson was placed on 9 July, paving the way for a 1 081‑m berth with a 16.8‑m draft capable of handling main‑line vessels and two cruise liners simultaneously. Celestyal Cruises disclosed a new cruise service from 2027 that will call at northern Greek ports, linking Thessaloniki with Istanbul, the Aegean islands, Egypt and Volos, while the forum pier underway. The programme also highlighted youth employment and maritime‑education integration. In mid‑July the minister visited Chalkida Shipyards, inspecting facilities and meeting executives, integration, and outlined a 25‑year vision linking the yard to a planned announced new commercial port. On 26 cruise services from 2027. Following Minister Vasilis Kikilias’s July 2026 he visited 26 visit to Zakynthos, announcing a master‑plan for the first port‑infrastructure projects since 1999. The new master plan island’s harbour received a positive assessment. It includes a €1.8 million harbour deepening, a €1 million beach‑restoration at Argasi, full dock paving and €1.045 million EU ESFA funding, alongside a newly‑operational the newly operational floating ambulance, all aimed at boosting ambulance. By July 28 the island’s economy plan entered the approval stage, with dredging contracts awarded and tourism. works on asphalt paving and lighting upgrades slated to begin. Officials stressed that financing, schedules and coordination among the Ministry, local authorities, the Port Authority and contractors are now secured, turning promises into concrete actions. These developments reinforce the broader strategy of integrating southern ports such as Zakynthos into the north‑south maritime corridor anchored by Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupoli, strengthening Greece’s role as a multimodal logistics hub.