A revival of the long-depressed shipbuilding and repair zone in the industrial Perama district appears as one of the goals set by Chinese shipping giant Cosco, shortly before the multinational assumes the Piraeus Port Authority’s (OLP) management.
By Antonis Tsiblakis
A revival of the long-depressed shipbuilding and repair zone in the industrial Perama district appears as one of the goals set by Chinese shipping giant Cosco, shortly before the multinational assumes the Piraeus Port Authority’s (OLP) management.
The arrival of the Castoro Sei, a column stabilized semi-submersible pipe-laying vessel, for repairs at a Perama yard this week coincides with a closely watched extraordinary OLP general assembly to replace board members viewed as “hostile” to the Chinese takeover. The “hiccup” in the port’s privatization process reportedly pits opposing factions within the current government. A majority of cabinet members reportedly insist on implementing memorandum conditions, whereas “dissidents” in leftist SYRIZA are ideologically weary of whatever privatizations.
Cosco was the sole bidder in an international tender for the sale of 67 percent of OLP and the major port’s management. The company already holds the concession for the container port at Piraeus.
The vessels arrived on Thursday in Greek waters and will remain docked in Perama for nine months. Maintenance and crew training will take place during its stay.
The Perama district lies on the extreme western end of the port of Piraeus.
Sources told “N” that the Chinese multinational is intent in implementing its marketing and investment plan for the entire port zone, even in the face of the shaky economic climate in Greece. The same sources said Cosco has closed another three deals to bring a same-number of pipe-laying vessels to the Perama zone for maintenance by the end of the year, regardless of when the privatization agreement is fully implemented.