The incident occurred as passengers were preparing to disembark and the man was detained by the Port Authorities of Igoumenitsa upon the ship’s arrival The altercation reportedly stemmed from the tourist’s frustration with a group of students from a school in Lamia who were returning from an educational trip to Italy The man claimed he was irritated by the students pushing and making noise behind him he turned and struck the girl standing nearby suggested to local media that the act was more severe than a simple slap The schoolgirl was taken to a local hospital’s Emergency Department as a precaution The Frenchman faces charges under Article 312 of the Criminal Code for “bodily harm to weak persons.” A preliminary investigation by the Igoumenitsa Port Authorities is underway Local outlet lamiareport.gr reported on the minor’s transfer to the hospital for observation You must be logged in to post a comment have seized a large quantity of drugs discovered on a refrigerated truck entering the country from Italy was arrested in connection with the incident with an estimated market value exceeding €3 million were discovered following a police dog sniff alert The narcotics unit of the port authorities seized just over 317 kg of cannabis stored in 292 airtight plastic bags hidden inside 34 cardboard boxes nearly 17 kg of cocaine in 14 plastic bags and 25.24 kg of crystal methamphetamine in two plastic bags each containing 20 liters and used to dissolve narcotic substances which is conducting the preliminary investigation also confiscated the truck and a mobile phone Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Residents and officials in the region of Thesprotia is northwestern Greece are up in arms over the planned abolition of the 628th Infantry Battalion and the closure of the Second Lieutenant Thomas Triantis military base in Filiates The plan is part of a cost-saving government initiative to shut down military bases across the country and merge them into larger A series of protests are planned over the Thesprotia move starting on Thursday with the closure of the town halls of Igoumenitsa The protest action will intensify on Tuesday with a blockade of the port of Igoumenitsa and the Egnatia Highway residents of Thesprotia will gather outside the Defense Ministry in Athens demanding that the base continue to operate Critics of the government’s plan for closing down bases argue that it will deprive local communities of a vital source of income and jobs We chose to travel by land because of our 10-month-old Goldendoodle puppy Hazel, who weighs 66 pounds and wouldn't fit under an airplane-cabin seat.  The first part of our road trip went smoothly. By the time we reached Brindisi in southern Italy, Hazel had been on buses, trains, cable cars, and a paddleboard. Our new challenge was getting on a 10-hour ferry to Igoumenitsa in northwest Greece with Grimaldi Lines Here were the worst and best parts: Theo and I paid for lunch as part of our ticket price but since dogs weren't allowed in the cafeteria there was already an enormous line that snaked back onto the deck and most of the hot food options were gone I realized they were packing lunch options away early I went to speak to one of the servers to ask them for a plate for Theo but when I turned back around my tray with my entire plate of food was gone By the time we arrived in Greece I was hangry and wish we came more prepared.  I had hoped I could do some work during the 10-hour journey I couldn't use my hotspot because the Adriatic Sea didn't have 4G signal so keeping my laptop battery charged was also an issue.  We made do with some games of backgammon and chess Although this was a good opportunity to catch up on reading but the ferry seemed quite run-down.  Likewise, the smell from the bathroom was so pungent that people waited in cubicles outside the room Since the ferry was pet-friendly, I assumed there would be a designated area for dogs to relieve themselves I was given a vague wave to the outer deck It was difficult to find a private spot for Hazel to do her business especially in the daytime at the height of summer when the deck was rather crowded We cleaned up after her as carefully as we could but we still received judgemental looks which seemed unfair considering we really didn't have a choice Although a daytime ferry entails less snoozing it does mean there's more time to sunbathe and watch sunsets One of the few highlights of this trip was the simple unadulterated pleasure of being outside with the wind in my hair Golden hour was also spectacular, especially when we passed through the Straits of Corfu and silhouettes of tiny islands like Ereikoussa and Othonoi Theo also brought his trusty pair of Nikon binoculars and the magnification was so strong Overall the journey allowed us and our furry friend to get to Greece as efficiently as possible Plus the ferry was punctual, the staff was friendly and everyone gave Hazel lots of love and attention Representatives for Grimaldi Lines didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment The joint venture established by the companies Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. and Investment Construction Commercial And Industrial S.A (EKEV SA) signed an agreement with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) which manages the privatization of Greek ports for the purchase of a majority stake of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority (IPA S.A.) Italian major Grimaldi revealed that the JV will assume 67% of the share capital of the port for a total price of EUR 84.17 million The signature of the share purchase agreement comes after the approval of the Court of Auditors while the ratification of the concession agreement between the Greek State and IPA S.A “I hope that today’s agreement will contribute to the full realization of the potential and competitive position of the Port of Igoumenitsa for the benefit of the local community and the Greek economy as a whole,” Greek Minister of Finance not only do we achieve a significant financial return but it is also expected that the port of Igoumenitsa will be established as an international port” This course leads to the strengthening of the economic footprint of the port increase of commercial and passenger traffic and finally to multiple benefits for the economy and society of the city of Igoumenitsa and the wider region,” Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy believes that the development of the port with the participation of an international investment scheme with extensive experience in the operation and management of port terminals will contribute to the stimulation of the economic activity in the wider region and to the establishment of Igoumenitsa as a key transport and communication hub with Southern and Central Europe HRADF promised to assist the new main shareholder of IPA S.A “Our investments will facilitate the growth of the port and the development of key European trade routes of which Igoumenitsa represents the main gateway,” the President and Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. we will confirm our usual commitment to providing frequent and efficient liner services dedicated to the transport of freight and passengers between Igoumenitsa and Italy’s Adriatic coast which are essential for traffic between Greece the upgrade of services in Igoumenitsa will result in more tourism The joint venture between Grimaldi Euromed and Greece’s Minoan Lines and Investment Construction Commercial and Industrial was selected as the preferred bidder for the port back in October 2022 The agreement forms part of a wider privatization program covering ports and other public assets of the Greek government which is estimated to have raised over EUR 7 billion from privatizations over the past ten years Some of the Greek ports that have been privatized over the past decade include Piraeus Port and Thessaloniki Port China’s COSCO Shipping acquired a majority stake of 51% in the Piraeus Port Authority the company that manages the Port of Piraeus The company acquired an additional 16 pct stake in 2021 a consortium comprising Deutsche Invest Equity Partners Terminal Link SAS and Belterra Investments Ltd acquired a 67% stake in the Thessaloniki Port Authority for €231.9 million a consortium comprising the companies J&P AVAX S.A. Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and Copelouzos Group were selected as the preferred bidder to acquire a 67% stake in the Alexandroupoli Port Authority for €231.9 million Greece called off the privatization and decided it should remain a state-owned asset The Greek government believes that Alexandroupolis port should stay under public control due to its strategic plans for a floating gas storage and regasification unit at the port are underway to address the energy crisis in Europe caused by decreasing Russian gas supplies due to the invasion of Ukraine and the imposed sanctions on Russia Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Ingersoll Rand Engineering Project Solutions At Ingersoll Rand’s Engineering Project Solutions we have been managing and implementing engineered to-order air packages for complex technical requirements for over 60 years We provide specialized custom compressed air and gas compressors as well as nitrogen generation packages to international EPC contractors and engineering companies across a range of […] A ferry carrying 550 passengers and 16 crew members ran aground Monday four nautical miles northwest of the port of Igoumenitsa Officials said the Corfu-Igoumenitsa ferry Agia Theodora ran aground in shallow waters A coast guard vessel and a tourist boat are currently on the scene with three tugboats and additional support en route Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A police officer on patrol duty in northwestern Greece was arrested on drugs charges Friday for allegedly using his service car to smuggle marijuana The suspect was detained in the port town of Igoumenitsa following a road chase together with an Albanian man found to be riding in the unmarked police vehicle A search of the car uncovered 102 kilograms (225 pounds) of marijuana It said the detained officer ignored his colleagues’ orders to stop for a search and sped away only coming to a halt after losing control of the vehicle and crashing into parked cars Police also arrested a second officer who had been on patrol duty with the suspect on Friday but was allegedly found in a coffee shop some 20 kilometers (12 miles) away All three suspects faced drugs-related charges The Igoumenitsa area is near the border with Albania over which large quantities of marijuana are smuggled into Greece Greece has secured non-binding bids for its 67% interest in Igoumenitsa port as part of a strategy to raise funds and cut down the public debt through its privatisation plan that was launched in 2010 and a consortium of Archirodon Group and ANEK & Trident Hellas Group Among other bidders for the 67% stake were Danthia Shipping Quintana Infrastructure and Thessaloniki Port Authority and a consortium of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines The deadline for bids to be submitted by the companies ended on 30 October Greece secured five non-binding bids to run a part of a port in the northern city of Kavala HRADF received expressions of interest for a sub-concession to run a terminal of Philippos II port Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis the port is being managed by Kavala Port Authority The bidders for the port were the International Port Investments Kavala consortium which includes Black Summit Financial Group and Thessaloniki Port Authority also submitted their bids for the port the news agency reported that the country planned to divest its stakes in four ports after it exited the bailout in 2018 HRADF then announced its intention to divest its majority stakes in Igoumenitsa  It recently sold its majority stake in Alexandroupolis port Nominations are now open for the prestigious Ship Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network. Italian shipping major has so far spent more than €160m on two government-owned terminals Greece’s privatisation agency has picked Grimaldi Group as its preferred bidder for a controlling stake in the port of Heraklion, the biggest city on the island of Crete. Grimaldi and its Greek ferry unit Minoan Lines offered €80m ($86.4m) for a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority. This is Grimaldi’s second acquisition in Greece after an €84.7m Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Your data on TradeWinds TradeWinds is part of DN Media Group AS From November 1st DN Media Group is responsible for controlling your data on TradeWinds We use your data to ensure you have a secure and enjoyable user experience when visiting our site. 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Port Authority have set specific goals and are progressing – each at their own pace and plan – with the implementation of the relevant investments the coastal shipping companies are also preparing so that it is possible to connect their ferries in a uniform way for all ports and ships Piraeus Port Authority has already announced the completion of the CIPORT (Cold Ironing in the Port of Piraeus) taking the final step financed with European funds which is a comprehensive study for the implementation of the electrical interconnection of docked ships also involves Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) the National Technical University of Athens feed studies are being prepared for the port of Piraeus for four berths on Akti Themistokleous Two berths will be designed with two power supply points at the Themistoklis terminal and two at Alkimos The Thessaloniki Port Authority has also included in its investment plan the development of such infrastructure which has already acquired control of the port of Igoumenitsa and will soon take over the port of Iraklio will attempt to implement an even more ambitious program not only the development of infrastructure for the electrical interconnection of ships but also their supply with electricity produced 100% from renewable sources those two port authorities are expected to develop in the zones they control both photovoltaic and other similar energy production systems The Greek Parliament’s plenary debated and approved two ratification bills on Tuesday evening one for the port of Igoumenitsa in western Greece and one amending the concession for the port of Thessaloniki Both ratification bills were included in a bill by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy The bill was supported by ruling New Democracy while main opposition SYRIZA and PASOK-KINAL had reserved judgment during the first readings The Igoumenitsa and Thessaloniki port bills were titled “Ratification of the March 29 2023 amendment and codification of the concession agreement between the Greek public and Igoumenitsa Port Authority SA” and “Ratification of the March 29 2023 amendment agreement between the Greek public and the Thessaloniki Port Authority SA.” The amount of 84.17 million euros that the Grimaldi shipping group has pledged for the acquisition of a controlling stake in the Igoumenitsa Port Authority has made an impression with some observers even branding it a record So why did the Italian group spend so much money The first and main reason is the significant prospects it sees in the Greek port especially when coupled with the planned upgrade of the Egnatia Odos highway The second is the port’s key role in the Italy-Greece maritime connection while the Italian shipper has every reason to monitor the course of port levies Three binding bids have been received in the sale of a majority stake in its northwestern port of Igoumenitsa the country’s privatisation agency said on Friday The bidders for a 67% stake in the port are a consortium of Attica Holdings with Aktor Concessions a consortium of Grimaldi Euromed with Minoan Lines and Investment Construction Commercial and Industrial The deadline for binding offers expired on Friday The offers of those investors that meet the terms of the tender will be unsealed at a later stage The government has been seeking to attract private investment in Igoumenitsa and other regional ports as part of wider privatisations to become a key logistics hub for goods from Asia to Europe and boost economic growth The privatisation drive has been revived after uncertainty linked to the Covid-19 pandemic prompted delays Athens has raised more than 7 billion euros in total from privatisations in response to three international bailouts that ended in 2018 Promising forecasts for cruise ship arrivals and passenger numbers based on pre-booking data in Greek ports for 2024 are available According to estimates by the Hellenic Ports Association cruise ship arrivals expected this year at the ports will increase by around 10% and the number of passengers by around 15% compared to 2023 the Piraeus Port Authority has already reported that in 2024 more than 1,000 cruise ships are expected in the port of Piraeus the Hellenic Ports Association published the data on the course of the cruise for last year 2023 was an amazing year for cruises in our country surpassing any historical precedent in total passenger arrivals the total arrivals of cruise ships amounted to 5,230 and the number of passengers exceeded 7 million an additional 450 ship arrivals and an additional 2,373,500 passengers were recorded compared to 2022 there was an increase of 9.41% in cruise ship arrivals and a 51.26% increase in passenger numbers The previous all-time record for arrivals was set in 2011 with 5,261 cruise ship arrivals and 6,121,360 passengers and a new passenger record is now set with a 14.4% increase from 2011 The difference in the percentage changes between ships and passengers both for the years 2023-2022 and for the historical records 2023-2011 the cruise ships calling at Greek ports in 2023 had a higher occupancy of passengers per ship each arrival in 2023 corresponds to 1,339 passengers compared to 969 in 2022 and 1,164 passengers per ship in 2011 Once again, Piraeus is the leader in the number of cruise passengers, with approximately 1,500,000, followed by Santorini with 1,298,968, Mykonos with 1,192,822, and then Corfu Most ports showed significant increases in passengers compared to 2022 with Piraeus leading the ranking in absolute numbers with 619,514 (+70.37%) followed by Mykonos with 506,904 (+73.90%) Katakolo with 139,360 (+55.57%) and Zakynthos with 130,050 passengers and the impressive increase of 510.96% compared to 2022 The ports of Astypalaia (+ 1106.52%), Chios (+571.47%), Paros (+251.61%) there were also decreases in some destinations such as Folegandros (-61.68%) another important element for the cruise market for the past year is the choice of Greek ports for homeporting The port of Piraeus leads the way in homeporting with 525 arrivals and 880,800 passengers starting and ending their journeys from Piraeus It is followed by the port of Corfu with 54 arrivals and 194,792 passengers Lavrio with 99 arrivals and 123,383 passengers Heraklion with six arrivals and 14,106 passengers and Thessaloniki with 31 arrivals and 10,000 passengers the Union underlines that the cruise market in Greece is an important development factor for both local communities and the national economy Combined with the further increase of homeporting infrastructure development can also give even greater prospects for additional jobs and opportunities in the market READ MORE: Milos is number one in Condé Nast Traveler’s choices for 2024 The board of directors of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) on Thursday short-listed seven interested parties that meet the eligibility criteria to participate in Phase B (binding offers phase) of the tender process for the acquisition of a majority stake of at least 67% of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority (OLHG) the consortium of Archirodon Group NV with the ANEK & Trident Hellas Group the Grimaldi Euromed-Minoan Lines consortium After the signing of a confidentiality agreement the pre-qualified investment schemes will receive the documents of Phase B and the bidders will be granted access to the virtual data room where data and information related to the asset will be uploaded OLHG was granted the right to exclusively use and operate the buildings land and facilities of the land-side zone of the port of Igoumenitsa the fishing shelter of Plataria and the pleasure boat shelter of Sivota by virtue of a concession agreement with the state bid 80 million euros for 67% of the Iraklio Port Authority and is acquiring a second Greek port of international interest The financial offer of the Italian group values the entire share capital of the largest port of Crete at €120 million The same investor also acquired 67% of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority for a price of €84 million months ago The offer for Iraklio is multiple times the fair valuation made by an independent appraiser on behalf of state asset fund TAIPED and almost double that of the other candidate One of the most fascinating (and fastest) drives across Greece is the 670-km journey from the Turkish border crossing of Kipi in Thrace to the Ionian Sea at Igoumenitsa. Known as the ”Egnatia Odos” after the ancient Roman Via Egnatia that conveyed tradesmen, armies and regular travellers across part of its length, this modern highway was completed in 2009, well over a decade and almost six billion euros since construction commenced. Part of the European E90 highway system that stretches from Istanbul to Italy (via a Greek ferry from Igoumenitsa), the road proved devilishly complex to build due to the mountains of the Pindos range in Epiros. Architects had to build some 1,650 bridges and 76 tunnels to overcome the numerous topographical challenges. However, in the end they prevailed, and driving times between important points such as Thessaloniki and the Epirot provincial capital of Ioannina were halved. While (not only) Greek drivers get a thrill out of shooting for 200km/hour speeds on the highway's long, flat expanses, for travellers the major reward lies in the close access the Egnatia Odos provides to many towns of historic and culinary interest, all complemented by an ever-changing scenery quite different from elsewhere in Greece. When approaching from Turkey the earthy eastern plains of Thrace are first to emerge, with their vivid patches of sunflowers, rolling fields of wheat and storks' nests dotting the telephone poles. The first major settlement, Alexandroupoli, is a pretty port town with good seafood restaurants, and just west of the Evros Delta, an important migratory route perfect for bird-watchers. Alexandroupoli is also the jumping-off point for ferries to Samothraki island. Tthe Egnatia Odos reaches Kavala, the first town in Greece's Macedonian province, 110km west of Komotini. This port features a pretty, elevated old town where a restored Ottoman structure now houses the swankiest luxury hotel in northern Greece, the Imaret. Kavala is also the port from where ferries leave for the popular, pine-scented island of Thasos. Continuing west for 170km, the highway passes near Thessaloniki - Greece's second city, and a mandatory stop with its plethora of museums, Byzantine churches and a lovely old town. The city's exuberant student population keeps things lively, and Thessaloniki has excellent nightlife and cafes, plus an array of appealing hotels and restaurants. For travellers seeking a local excursion, a 30-minute drive northward on paved roads leads to the Zagorohoria, a region of developed traditional mountain villages overlooking the awe-inspiring Vikos Gorge, said to be the world's deepest. EU citizens can drive freely in Greece with their home licenses. Citizens of other countries should have an international driver's license. 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The new port of Igoumenitsa has vastly improved the facilities for passenger and freight transport to and from Italy Igoumenitsa plays an increasingly important role in connecting south-east Europe.  It is also the beginning of the Egnatia Odos Motorway Greece has been modernising its ports with a view to enhancing their competitiveness and guaranteeing first-class port services The challenge is to keep pace with the current and future market demands of national and Mediterranean transport The development of Igoumenitsa port is ambitious and scheduled over three phases was completed in 2006 and was implemented with the oversight of the Greek Ministry of Environment and Public Works It is managed by the Port Authority of Igoumenitsa (OLIG S.A.) Slightly more than half of Phase A funding came from the EU’s Cohesion Fund The main work included construction of a new port some 300 metres away from the old one Several new buildings were erected for a passenger terminal New equipment was installed and a start made on creating a new land zone Phase B is well underway and will ensure that the port can accommodate large ferries and cruise ships Work involves construction of a wharf connecting the old port’s south pier with the Phase A piers The land zone behind the piers is being reclaimed and two new terminal stations and other key facilities for passengers and freight are under construction This phase also involves widening and deepening the Igoumenitsa sailing route the port will have a new freight centre and a terminal These will further equip Igoumenitsa with the infrastructure needed for maritime tourism transport– which more than ever require first-rate port facilities and services with passenger traffic growing by a third between 1996 and 2008 to reach 2.69 million Northern Greece and the Near East are also benefiting from the new Egnatia motorway it stretches 670 km from Igoumenitsa to the Turkish border With branches to the neighbouring Balkan states it will become the main corridor for east-west trade flows ΕΙΔΙΚΗ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ ΣΥΝΤΟΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΙΑΚΩΝ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΩΝ Port Exploitation and Marketing Department Three ports in northern Greece are the focus of intense interest by international maritime transport firms highlighting the country’s strategic location and role as a stable country on the outskirts of Europe at a time of war in Ukraine and heightened risk of disruptions in international trade The latest developments indicate that the three ports the so-called “northern axis,” will become an alternative to Piraeus and open up to new markets while also taking away some of Piraeus’ market share the world’s third largest container shipping company added new connections from Thessaloniki to Northern Europe and Turkey with ships among the largest ever to have anchored at the port having decided that the port of Alexandroupoli will remain in its hands through the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund equipment modernization and dredging to deepen the port With all three ports connected to the Egnatia Highway and its feeder roads connecting it to the Balkans they could compete for the bulk of trade both regional and beyond besides its newly upgraded role in moving military equipment and personnel The upgrade is expected to be partly funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility which paid €84.2 million for a 67% stake in the port of Igoumenitsa is preparing investments that will significantly improve the loading and offloading of trucks to and from Italy The project will begin in the first half of 2023 they could compete for the bulk of trade both regional and beyond and become serious competitors but also to major Black Sea and Adriatic ports The upgrade of the feeder roads will begin as soon as construction group Terna takes charge of Egnatia The upgrade of the railway line from Alexandroupoli to Ormenio which will improve connections to Bulgaria and beyond will turn the port of Alexandroupoli into a major gateway to Eastern Europe Thessaloniki is already Greece’s most important port for bulk cargo and aims to become a major part of the local supply route Industrialists in northern Greece say that the new routes started by CMA CGM can also help move cargo fast to Northern Europe which is further away from these markets by road Thessaloniki could become an additional major part of China’s Maritime Silk Road having acquired ownership of the port of Piraeus through Cosco with Prime Minister Li Keqiang calling Piraeus “the pearl of the Mediterranean.” The Alexandroupoli-Ormenio rail upgrade will require spending €1.33 billion to electrify the route and double its carrying capacity The reward will be the capacity to carry the multimodal (sea-land) transport of goods to and from the whole of Asia and Eastern Europe the Grimaldi Group also wants to create a logistics center that would significantly increase the number of trucks using the Egnatia as a gateway to European markets The recent decision granting the right for the operation and management of Egnatia Odos to a private group represents a new chapter in the life of the highway that extends from Greece’s western port of Igoumenitsa to the eastern Greek-Turkish border at Kipoi It is perhaps not widely known that the Egnatia also constitutes Greece’s participation in the Black Sea Ring Highway a major regional infrastructure project of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Greece is an important founding member of BSEC and the Egnatia’s advantages – but also problems – for the improvement of regional connectivity also involve the competent BSEC Working Groups Apart from its undeniable national importance the Egnatia Highway – together with its vertical axes – connects our country with its four immediate neighbors and serves vehicles from many countries in the wider region operation and maintenance of the highway was assigned to Egnatia Odos SA (EOAE) in order to perform its work more effectively according to private economic criteria The main part of the Egnatia was completed in 2009 the Egnatia’s submission under the supervision of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) and the consequent calculation of its revenues for the repayment of Greece’s public debt led to difficulties in its maintenance and operation The biggest problem for the highway’s foreign users remains the complete lack of service stations along its 658 kilometers and these lack the necessary safety infrastructure for drivers Other problems include the constant changes in the quality of the road surface the lack of maintenance on several stretches and the irritating increased number of outdated toll stations long queues – especially in the summer months – as well as placing an obvious burden on the environment from the frequent stop-and-go maneuvers of mainly heavy vehicles It is a fact that a large number of passenger cars buses and trucks moving on the Egnatia come from third countries The number of Turkish trucks crossing the highway from the Greek-Turkish border all the way to the port of Igoumenitsa and vice versa is significant the traffic increases with the thousands of vehicles from Balkan countries heading to the resorts of northern Greece The situation is aggravated by the thousands of vehicles of Turkish immigrants who drive to Turkey with their families for their summer vacation and return a few weeks later to their countries of residence The lack of service stations for all these travelers 10 years after the start of the highway’s operation forces many potential users to choose alternative routes The European Commission recently announced a call for proposals to improve the network of Safe & Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs) Greece can submit proposals for the radical upgrading of existing parking spaces and for the construction of modern service stations along the Egnatia Highway In order to avoid the long delays and the environmental burden caused by the large number of toll stations up-to-date methods of toll collection should be adopted through the electronic registration of entry and monitoring of each vehicle and the payment of the appropriate tolls upon its exit from the highway I consider it necessary to also refer to the Kipoi border station on the Greek-Turkish border which is unable to respond to the increased traffic: Kilometers-long queues of trucks and passenger cars often form on the Greek side For the drivers and passengers of these vehicles who often wait for hours or days to go through the necessary checks there is no provision of any service whatsoever Unsightly and dangerous pollution of the immediate environment is visible along the entire length of the last kilometers before the border station Turkey is currently completing the second upgrade of its own border station at Ipsala with the now well-known “opulence” – but also impressive functionality – used for its public buildings and infrastructure projects The BSEC organization recently introduced a model border station to its member-countries with ample amenities for drivers and passengers especially for international transport trucks (e.g Greece can take advantage of the relevant international experience and the support of BSEC to proceed with the urgent upgrade of the Kipoi border station the construction of the new bridge across the Evros River should proceed which will facilitate the smooth movement of all vehicles The relevant proposal to the Greek authorities was submitted by the signatory in 2004 and led to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement in 2006 which was ratified by the Greek Parliament in 2007 (Law 3579/2007) and by the Turkish National Assembly in 2011 In the reasoning of the relevant bill it was stated that “the second cross-border bridge will be constructed near the existing one The construction of the new bridge will be done by each country the strengthening of the international and regional importance of the Egnatia Highway presupposes the urgent address of the above serious problems and obstacles faced today by foreign and Greek users alike Christides is former secretary-general of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC 2015-21) and former ambassador of Greece to Turkey (2002-05) on the Greek mainland opposite the island of Corfu handles a large portion of maritime traffic to Italy Binding bids were submitted by passenger shipper Attica Group in alliance with Aktor construction firm; Italy’s Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines; and the already private Thessaloniki Port Authority The bids will be opened at a subsequent meeting of the board of TAIPED Greece received nine non-binding bids for a 67% stake in Igoumenitsa port its privatization agency (TAIPED) said on Friday Attica Holdings and a consortium comprising Archirodon Group The other bidders were a consortium comprising Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines The deadline for bidding expired on Friday at 5 p.m Greece embarked on an ambitious privatization plan in 2010 at the start of a decade-long financial crisis to help reduce its public debt and attract investors to overhaul and boost the business efficiency of its assets Athens has raised about 7 billion euros so far from the program which includes the sale of a majority stake in Alexandroupoli port and the sub-concession for the operation of a multipurpose port terminal in Kavala the migrants were expected to be transported to the Igoumenitsa port The rescue comes after 21 migrants died when their boat sank of the Greek island of Lesvos last week with residents pulling survivors to safety up steep cliffs in dramatic rescues The Greek coast guard said 16 bodies of young African women and one young man were recovered there after a dinghy carrying about 40 people sank while 13 other migrants were believed to be missing “The women who were rescued were in a full state of panic so we are still trying to work out what happened,” coast guard spokesman Nikos Kokkalas told state television “The women were all from African countries There is a search on land as well as at sea and we hope that survivors made it to land,” he added The second rescue effort was launched several hundred kilometres to the west, off the island of Kythira The police narcotics unit of Attica announced on Monday that it seized 1.1 tons of unprocessed cannabis stashed in a trailer and arrested two foreign nationals who are members of an international drug distribution network The two suspects were arrested on Saturday evening after their trailer had crossed earlier in the day into Greece from Albania at the Mavromati border station in northwestern Igoumenitsa The investigation revealed that the network smuggled large quantities of unprocessed cannabis from Albania and distributed it in Greece Police have also identified a third suspected gang member the seized drugs would have fetched profits of 1.73 million euros for the gang The trailer was tracked down by police after an exchange of information between border officers in Igoumenitsa and the drugs task force unit in Attica The Group companies Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines together with Investment Construction Commercial and Industrial A new era of investment and growth is opening up for the Greek port and its entire region the joint venture established by the companies Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. (EKEV SA) signed an agreement with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF the fund which manages the program of privatization of ports and other public assets in Greece and a member of GROWTHFUND – The National Fund of Greece) which provides for the purchase of a majority stake of 67% of the share capital of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority (IPA S.A.) for a total price of 84.17 million euros The signing ceremony that took place at HRADF’s premises was attended by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy the Secretary General of Ports Port Policy and Maritime Investments the President and Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. the CEO of GROWTHFUND – The National Fund of Greece the Corporate Short Sea Commercial Director of the Grimaldi Group The Chairman and Managing Director of EKEV S.A. the President and Managing Director of the Igoumenitsa Port Holding Company S.A. The signature of the share purchase agreement takes place after the approval of the Court of Auditors With the signing of the share purchase agreement another important milestone for the development of the assets managed by HRADF is achieved marking a new era for the port of Igoumenitsa and the development prospects of the region stated after the signing of the agreement: “I hope that today’s agreement will contribute to the full realization of the potential and competitive position of the Port of Igoumenitsa for the benefit of the local community and the Greek economy as a whole This agreement confirms the effectiveness of the Government’s strategic planning for the development of the country’s ports and proves in practice the confidence of significant investment schemes in the prospects of the country The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy stated: “The signing of the share purchase agreement marks another important milestone in the course of the implementation of the strategic plan of the Greek Government for the development of the ports of our country for the benefit of the Greek economy and local communities increase of commercial and passenger traffic and finally to multiple benefits for the economy and society of the city of Igoumenitsa and the wider region“ stressed: “The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of a new era for the Igoumenitsa Port Authority The development of the port with the participation of an international investment scheme with extensive experience in the operation and management of port terminals will contribute to the stimulation of the economic activity in the wider region and to the establishment of Igoumenitsa as a key transport and communication hub with Southern and Central Europe with its positive experience in the implementation of demanding projects and the know-how it possesses as Port Planning Authority will assist the new main shareholder of IPA S.A for the development of the port that will have significant benefits for the local community the businesses of the region and the national economy in general” The President and Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. pointed out: “We are ready and especially proud to start a new page in the story of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority Our general goal is to have the Port of Igoumenitsa fulfil its full potential to the benefit of all its stakeholders transport and tourism operators to the local community Our investments will facilitate the growth of the Port and of which Igoumenitsa represents the main gateway The CEO of GROWTHFUND – The National Fund of Greece stated: “The agreement that was signed today with Grimaldi Euromed – Minoan Lines is opening up new perspectives for the port of Igoumenitsa The upgrade of the port will contribute significantly to the economy of the city the prefecture of Thesprotia and the development of Epirus in general The standards of public interest and regional development will be applied for the development of other ports within the Growthfund Group” Thesprotia MP Vassilios Giogiakas stated: “We are optimistic that with the entry of the new investor in the share capital of IPA S.A. both the port of Igoumenitsa and the smaller ports belonging to the Authority will enter a new phase of development A development that also leads to the upgrading of the tourist product of Igoumenitsa the increase of the tourist flow in the wider region the creation of new businesses and new jobs We look forward to seeing the Authority take all those steps that will open new possibilities for the prosperity of our country” Top News,Greece Greece has approved an international tender for hydrocarbon exploration in four blocks in the Mediterranean Sea Top News,World Top News,Energy World,Word newsletter The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) participated in the 2025 edition of Sea Asia one of the premier maritime industry events in the Asia-Pacific… Leading mental health support provider MHSS is proud to confirm its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the appointment of two psychologists… Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER cologne is smelt all over – a Venetian custom Young and old take to the streets and spray cologne on people They give everyone a wish: “Good cut” that is to say goodbye to the good old year and to joyfully welcome the new the elders wake up at dawn so they can be the first to welcome the new year They go out to the windows or their yards, gaze at the mountains (especially the Pantokrator the highest mountain of Corfu) and passionately say: “Good morning mountains and happy new year.” The custom of “Strina” is also revived on New Year’s Day which children receive from their relatives as “good luck” for the new year “Strina” was a currency used during the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Era It comes from the Latin strena which means a happy omen or “epinomis” as the ancient Greeks called it or “bunamas” as they say today all the ships that are moored in the ports of the island are illuminated and greet in their own way the new year leaving a joyful roar that can be heard as far as Igoumenitsa on the shores of Epirus Corfu is special throughout this festive season the local choirs and philharmonic orchestras put on their traditional costumes and light up every part of Corfu The atmosphere is magical and reminiscent of times with forgotten customs – but they continue to this today in Corfu READ MORE: The five Corfu beaches to avoid crowds An investment proposal submitted by Atlas Robotics to Enterprise Greece foresees the creation of a manufacturing factory for robotic technology in northwestern Greece which claims to be included in the regime of strategic investments will provide for the implementation of a factory manufacturing robotic systems and a research and development unit at Karteri in the municipality of Igoumenitsa The selection of the area was based on its good connectivity and its proximity to the port of Igoumenitsa whose CEO and co-founder is entrepreneur Gregg Nourjian was founded in 2021 and is reportedly financed by US funds It chose to set up its facilities in Greece because of the qualified personnel available in the country but also because of the investment-friendly environment according to sources who did not go into details about the projections of Atlas Robotics’ business plan a physician-radiologist and chief of health affairs at Michigan’s third largest hospital who specializes in the field of artificial intelligence and is in charge of the Willis Towers Watson’s consulting office in the United Kingdom Sources say Atlas Robotics will initially focus on the field of robotic diagnostic imaging while there seems to be an increased interest in the adoption of this technology by large medical groups The robotic systems that the company seeks to develop have a diversified field inspection and certification (TIC) of industrial products ensuring that they meet the appropriate specifications software and inspection systems that it will place in customer facilities for testing inspections and certifications and will be paid based on the scans the robots will make for inspections and tests Some of the systems that will be produced will remain in the factory opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.