By Vaso Vegiri

The development of smart applications is a one-way path for Greek ports, offering significant benefits in terms of resilience during times of crisis, while state bureaucracy often acts as a constraint on these efforts. This was the key takeaway from the panel discussion on Smart Ports held during the 1st Blue Heritage Summit in Thessaloniki, with Naftemporiki as an Official Media Partner.

“Uncertainty is becoming the new reality. Major challenges, however, also create major opportunities. Shipping has always been able to turn challenges into opportunities,” said Panagiotis Anastasopoulos, President of the Hellenic Ports Association and Chairman and CEO of the Port of Patras, in response to a question regarding the expected impact of the new geopolitical crisis in the Middle East on Greek ports. At this juncture, he added, technology and smart port capabilities play a particularly important role.

He also described cyberattacks as a major challenge and stressed that “by leveraging the country’s island geography, we must demonstrate that Greek ports should operate within a framework of cooperation and serve as key instruments of the national security strategy.” He further highlighted the need for legislative reform to enable state-managed ports to proceed with investments, noting that approximately 80 million euros in cash reserves across eight ports currently remain idle.

According to Anastasopoulos, port employees should not be concerned, as technology and artificial intelligence are not intended to replace human labor but to enhance the quality and speed of services.

Regarding the Port of Patras, whose master plan was recently approved by the Council of State, he expressed strong satisfaction with the development and voiced hope that the projects and key interventions included in the plan would be implemented swiftly by the state.

Piraeus Port Authority

On behalf of Piraeus Port Authority / COSCO Shipping, Strategy and Development Director Despoina Gkikaki underlined that the objective is clear: to make the country’s largest port more resilient and sustainable through the use of advanced technology. To this end, a central digital platform - the Port Capability Support Platform - has been developed to ensure data exchange, visualisation and resource monitoring via KPI dashboards. For security and surveillance of the extensive port facilities, drone-based patrol systems are deployed, transmitting HD video in real time, while smart cameras and “green” 5G stations have been installed at the passenger port. In addition, works are underway to expand port services to enable LNG bunkering, starting with cruise vessels.

“Smart ports” remain a work in progress in Greece rather than a given, noted Angelos Vlachos, CEO of the Kavala Port Authority, pointing out that most regional ports are currently classified at the second of four maturity levels. While significant progress has been made over the past five years, further steps are required, including addressing bureaucratic hurdles - particularly for public ports - to enhance competitiveness and increase revenues.

Vlachos placed particular emphasis on the need to allow the commercial use of the Nymphaea border crossing, warning that otherwise the Port of Kavala risks losing its natural Balkan hinterland. He further described the maintenance of port infrastructure as a critical issue, noting that ageing assets will entail substantial future costs, and highlighted the significant shortage of marina berths in northern Greece.

Thessaloniki Port Authority

Regarding the Thessaloniki Port Authority, Director of Information and Communication Technologies and Digital Transformation Spyros Nikolaou stressed that ports must be viewed not in isolation but as part of a broader logistics network, underlining the importance of rail and road connectivity to ensure that investments in the port deliver value.

“For us,” Nikolaou added, “it is critical that the operation of the new Pier 6 is accompanied by a corresponding qualitative upgrade. Our goal is that, by the time it becomes operational, the necessary digital, operational and energy infrastructure will be fully mature.”

In this regard, he noted that investments have already been made in the automation of the container terminal and several other port functions. Full automation of the conventional port - the largest in Greece - is also expected in the coming months. In addition, plans are underway to implement a platform that will serve as a digital control centre, integrating data from vessels, terminals, trucks and port infrastructure.