Greece has the greatest major ports and coastline in the Mediterranean Basin. This is why it has numerous ports and harbors, which are crucial for its international trade.

Greece mainly exports olive oil, olives, cotton, fruits and nuts, petroleum products, fish and cheese to its trade partners, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, France and Turkey.

Port of Piraeus- Among Leading Major Ports

Piraeus is counted among the 50 top ports in the world, the biggest port in Greece, and the second-largest in the Mediterranean region. It lies on the Saronikos Gulf towards the southeast of the mainland. The port is also a transit port through which vessels sail to the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Black Sea.

It has several specialised terminals handling imports of coal, timber, petrol, metal, oil and industrial products. Exports include tobacco, cotton, fruits, cement, etc.

Apart from cargo, it also handles millions of people and is the largest passenger port in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Approximately 25,100 ships and 11,706,200 tonnes of cargo, including 513,400 TEU and 20,336,500 passengers, are handled by Piraeus Port annually.

The container handling area includes 3 terminals with capacities of 1.1 million TEU, 3 million TEU and 2.7 million TEUs.

The cargo terminal has an annual capacity of 25,000,000 tonnes, while the automobile terminal can handle up to 450,000 units with a storage capacity of 12,000 cars. Piraeus Cruise Port has 11 vessel berths with a quay length of 2800 m, and there are three terminals called A, B and C.

• Terminal “A” Miaoulis is the main terminal and is closest to the city center
• Terminal “B” Themistocles has two berths and handles cruise ships whose journey begins in Athens.
• Terminal “C” Alkimos was recently renovated. It has 20 check-in counters to handle 700 passengers in an hour.

Thessaloniki the Greatest of Major Ports

Earlier known as Salonica, this port lies on the northwestern shore of Thermaicos Gulf and serves as a transit point for Central and Southeastern Europe. All port berths are connected to the European Railway Network. Major cargo handled here includes iron, tobacco, minerals, fertilizer, chemicals, oil and refined products, tin, rice, grains, cement, etc.

The container handling area lies in the western part of Pier 6. The 550 m long and 350 m broad terminal is a part of the Free Zone and accommodates small and medium-sized ships with a maximum draught of 12 m and a maximum capacity of 550,000 TEUs.The Cargo Terminal has 14 quays to accommodate all kinds of bulk and break bulk cargo.

Thessaloniki is a famous cruise destination, and this terminal has ferry connections with the islands of the Cyclades, the Sporades and Izmir.

Port of Volos- a Very Major Port

Volos Port lies at the head of the Gulf of Pagasitikos on the eastern Greek mainland and connects the mainland with Sporades and Evoia.In summer, ferries from this port operate to Mytilene, eastern Aegean and Cyclades.

The harbour is well-sheltered by a breakwater. This runs from the east to the port’s centre. It is protecting ships at all the piers.

Volos has 3000 m of quays that can accommodate vessels up to 35,000 DWT, with a length of 200 m and a 9.8 m draft.

Shell, Mobil and BP jointly operate everything. The port also has RORO facilities and the latest cargo handling equipment.

The main cargo handled here includes metals, fertilisers, cement, petroleum products and agricultural products. Around 1300 vessels visit this port every year.

Port of Milos Island

Milos Island has a large and deep bay with an anchorage protecting it from the strongest southerly winds. The port consists of the harbour area, Adamas and Voudhia Bay. The principal cargo are the volcanic mineral ores meant for export and general cargo.

It also accommodates conventional ferries and catamarans and connects the Greek island of Milos with the Greek Mainland, Piraeus and Lavario, including islands like Crete, Anafi, Rhodes, Sifnos, Naxos, Halki, Amorgos, etc.

Port of Heraklion

Heraklion, or Iraklion, lies on the northern side of Crete Island. It is one of the busiest ports in Greece, operating as a harbour for tourists from Heraklion along with handling cargo.

It comprises two areas: the small inner port and the new outer port.

The inner port has a 4 m water depth and mainly accommodates fishing boats, small craft and yachts. The ferry port of Heraklion links Crete with Piraeus and the islands of Halki, Ios, Kaos, Syroes, Anafi, Thira, etc.

Heraklion exports raisins, olive oil, fruits and vegetables and wine. It imports machines, timber, manufactured products and cereals.

Port of Chios

Port of Chios is the principal port of Nisos Khios and lies on Chios Island in the Aegean Sea. It consists of an outer anchorage and an artificial harbour for ferries and small general cargo vessels.

Chios Port can accommodate 2 passenger or cargo ships of 20,000 tonnes each. Also, a passenger ship weighing around 700 tonnes simultaneously.

The port’s maximum depth is 8.20 m, and on the southern side, there is a marina. This has several fishing boats, sailing boats and yachts. The ferries from Chios ply to mainland Greece and Turkey.

Port of Agioi Theodoroi One of the Known Major Ports

The town of Agio Theodorai lies 12 km east of Corinth. The famous beach of Pefkakia lies in its eastern part, lined with pine trees and golden sand.

The town has a beautiful pedestrian street by the sea, along with restaurants, coffee shops and beach bars. The town’s central avenue is part of the old Athens-Corinth highway.

The Port of Agioi Theodoroi is located in Elefsis Bay in Saronikos Gulf. It is west of Pachi and includes a deep-water tanker terminal for crude oil and refinery products.

There are modern port facilities for accommodating tankers with 400,000 DWT and a maximum draught of 21.9 m.

This port handles approximately 3,000 vessels and 15,000,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

Port of Kavala One of the Great Major Ports

Kavala port is on the southern coast of the Greek mainland. It is near the island of Thassos. This is about 190 nm north of Athens. Port of Kavala-Filippos B lies in New Karvali.

Kavala is a well-sheltered facility. It managed by Kavala Port Authority S.A. The company manages four ports lying in the expansive Kavala region. These include the Central Kavala Port (Apostolos Pavlos), the Commerical Port ( Filippos B) in Nea Karvali, Eleftheres Port. Lastly, the Keramoti Port.

The Kavala Port has a passenger harbour and a commercial harbour which handles RORO, leisure craft, fishing vessels, etc. There are additional facilities that handle petroleum products and fertilisers.