The on-going privatisation tenders for Greece's two main ports will close soon, with the winners expected to take over the facilities early next year.
The tenders are for management contracts for two of the three container facilities at Piraeus and for the entire container terminal in Thessaloniki.
Merchant Marine Minister George Voulgarakis told the press on Monday that “the tender will be complete by July this year” while “the investor will take over in 2009”.
Parties interested in the privatisation include DP World, COSCO Pacific Limited, Maersk (APM Terminals BV.), Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), and Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM), according to earlier reports.
A recent Reuters report quoted officials confirming that COSCO, Maersk, DP World, HPH and PSA International Pte. Ltd. are among the bidders.
The privatisation drive has been met with fierce objection from port workers, which have resulted in frequent strikes.
The strikes started in January after Voulgarakis called for a global tender for operators to run Piraeus and Thessaloniki under a 30-year concession.
The most recent work stoppage occurred in March when dockers working for the Piraeus Port Authority held a 24-hour strike. There was also a strike in Thessaloniki that effectively closed the commercial port.
Dock workers have also been refusing to work overtime and on weekends or holidays since January.
Port authorities have warned that container storage terminals are already running close to capacity and that further strikes will worsen congestion.
Voulgarakis, however, has said the government will hold firm on its privatisation plans.
"Both ports were heavily in debt and for the first time last year had asked to be included in the State budget," said Voulgarakis.
He called on the workers to engage in talks "to avoid the possibility of some of them losing their jobs".
The tenders are for management contracts for two of the three container facilities at Piraeus and for the entire container terminal in Thessaloniki.
Merchant Marine Minister George Voulgarakis told the press on Monday that “the tender will be complete by July this year” while “the investor will take over in 2009”.
Parties interested in the privatisation include DP World, COSCO Pacific Limited, Maersk (APM Terminals BV.), Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), and Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM), according to earlier reports.
A recent Reuters report quoted officials confirming that COSCO, Maersk, DP World, HPH and PSA International Pte. Ltd. are among the bidders.
The privatisation drive has been met with fierce objection from port workers, which have resulted in frequent strikes.
The strikes started in January after Voulgarakis called for a global tender for operators to run Piraeus and Thessaloniki under a 30-year concession.
The most recent work stoppage occurred in March when dockers working for the Piraeus Port Authority held a 24-hour strike. There was also a strike in Thessaloniki that effectively closed the commercial port.
Dock workers have also been refusing to work overtime and on weekends or holidays since January.
Port authorities have warned that container storage terminals are already running close to capacity and that further strikes will worsen congestion.
Voulgarakis, however, has said the government will hold firm on its privatisation plans.
"Both ports were heavily in debt and for the first time last year had asked to be included in the State budget," said Voulgarakis.
He called on the workers to engage in talks "to avoid the possibility of some of them losing their jobs".