Are there “arbitrary ports”? Yes, there are, as there are unauthorised constructions in most ports and many of them operate without a permit.
There are also ports where there are no kiosks, services for passengers, toilets, canteens, canteens, shelters, toilets in passenger reception areas, and most ports do not have fire-fighting systems.
There are also ports that do not apply all the provisions of the ISPS Code, which concerns port security.
Recently the ports of Donousa and Schinoussa, which belong to the Naxos Port Fund, were legalized, coordinated by the current Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos.
However, there are operating ports all over Greece, a large number of arbitrary ports and orphan ports. “Orphan ports are ports that do not belong to an administrative body.
In order for the legalization of the ports of Donoussa and Schinoussa to take place, Law 4504/2017 was passed, where article 86 defines the procedure for the legalization of existing port facilities. The legislation was enacted following the concerted and diligent efforts of the then Secretary General of Ports of the Ministry of Shipping, Christos Lambrides, and paved the way for the demarcation of the seashore, the land port zone and the legalization of ports.
However, apart from the fact that this process is both time-consuming and costly, problems often arise with forest maps. A typical example is the port of Kythera, in Diakofti.
It is a port that was completed in 1995 and after 25 years, in 2019, after a complaint, it was found by the Planning Department that the project was done without a construction permit and the whole area belongs to a forest area!
The port in Diakofti, has been built on the island of Makrykythira and is connected to Kythera by a bridge.
In 2020, a team of the Planning Department visited the port and decided that it is an arbitrary port and imposed a fine to the Region of Attica, 135.679,61 euros and a maintenance fine of 67.839,81 euros!
Today, we do not know what the total amount including surcharges has reached and we are curious to know the total amount owed.
The absolute absurdity. The Greek State fines the Greek State!
But for the port at Diakofti, the Panhellenic Merchant Navy Captains' Union has made comments regarding the safe mooring of passenger ferries.
You realize that no works can be done in an ... arbitrary port that serves thousands of passengers every day.
The PEPEN, in a letter to the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, stresses the shortcomings and what needs to be done immediately at the port of Kythera in Diakofti:
- Direction
- Mounting of bumpers
- Anchoring is problematic due to the quality of the seabed (stony)
- Provide a stern mooring (L) for safe berthing of vessels
- Construction of sanitary facilities and waiting room
But, on this occasion, we should also mention the remarks of the Panhellenic Skippers' Union for the port of Antikythera, which it describes as one of the most difficult and problematic ports, due to the small width of the harbour basin and the lack of protection from north-easterly winds. The PEPEN stresses that the port of Antikythera needs entrance and pier lighting, dredging of the port basin, construction of a larger pier with a better orientation (verticality to N) and installation of bindings.
I come back to the issue of the port of Diakofti in Kythera.
I submitted the relevant question yesterday to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, who informed me that the relevant file for the legalization of the port has not been completed, which to be completed should be drawn the shore, the land port zone and to be declassified by the Forestry Department the area and other topographical and notarial documents
The questions that arise are many for the port of Diakofti and we would like an immediate answer from those responsible for the issue.
But we take this opportunity to ask the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy:
- How many arbitrary ports are there in Greece?;
- How many “orphan” ports are there?;
- How many ports are operating without an operating licence?;
- Is there a plan to register and legalise unauthorised ports, fishing shelters, marinas, piers?;
- Is there coordination with the Forestry Departments to accelerate the declassification of forest areas where ports operate?;
