Port of Thessaloniki
The Port of Thessaloniki (Greek: Λιμάνι της Θεσσαλονίκης) is one of the largest seaports in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is considered the gateway Port to the Balkans and South East Europe, located in Northern Greece close to the major Trans-European motorway and railway networks with direct access to the Southeastern European countries. The port is operated by ThPA S.A. which is listed on the Athens Exchange since 2001, is authorized with AEO license and handles containers, conventional cargo, operates the free zone of the Port, offers intermodal rail services as well as serves passenger traffic through cruise and ferry. Following the privatization process, 67% of the Company’s share capital was transferred to South Europe Gateway Thessaloniki (SEGT) Ltd on March 23, 2018. SEGT Ltd. consists of "Deutsche Invest Equity Partners GmbH" (47%), "Terminal Link SAS" (33%) and "Belterra Investments Ltd." (20%). The Greek State, via HRADF, retains a stake of 7.27% of ThPA S.A. and the remaining 25.73% is free float.[9] On June 4, 2021, the shareholding structure of SEGT Ltd. was changed since shareholder “Belterra Investments Ltd.” purchased the entire share of "Deutsche Invest Equity Partners GmbH", therefore owning 67% and consequently becoming the controlling shareholder of SEGT Ltd.[10][11] 7 December 2021 Belterra, Interests Ivan Savvidis, purchased a 299,855 shares of ThPS, with an acquisition price of 26 euros per share. Before this acquisition, Belterra has already taken 189,447 shares that accounted for 1.88% of the total paid-up share capital of the Company. Following the above acquisition, the total number of shares and equal voting rights of the company directly owned by Belterra is 489,332 and corresponds to 4.85% of its share capital.Therefore, the total number of shares and the equivalent voting rights of the OPTRERRA, both directly and indirectly - through its direct participation in SEGT (which holds 67% of the shares and voting rights of the GACH) - amounts to 7,242 .932, which accounts for 71.85% of its share capital, from 68.88%, held before the transaction described.
Port of Thessaloniki | |
---|---|
![]() Overview | |
Location | |
Country | ![]() |
Location | ![]() |
UN/LOCODE | GRSKG[1] |
Details | |
Operated by | Thessaloniki Port Authority (Athex: OLTH) |
Owned by | South Europe Gateway Thessaloniki Ltd (67%)[2] Belterra Investments Ltd – 71.85% Terminal Link SAS – 33% HRADF (7.27%) Other Shareholders (25.73%)[3] |
Type of harbor | Natural/Artificial |
Size | 155 ha (1.55 sq km) |
Employees | 460[4] (2020) |
Executive Chairman | Athanasios Liagkos [5] |
Statistics | |
Vessel arrivals | ▲ 1,805 vessels (2020)[6] |
Annual cargo tonnage | ▲ 17,091,263 tonnes (2020)[6] |
Annual container volume | ▲ 460,724 TEU's (2020)[6] |
Annual revenue | ![]() |
Net income | ![]() |
Website www.thpa.gr |

Statistics
In 2020 the Port of Thessaloniki handled 17.091.263 tonnes of cargo and 460.724 TEU, making it one of the busiest cargo ports in Greece and the second largest container port in the country.
Years | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|
General cargo | 5.421.030 | 5.948.911 |
Liquid bulk | 6.742.913 | 7.837.899 |
Dry bulk | 3.965.166 | 3.304.453 |
Containers (TEU) | 448.765 | 460.724 |
Total | 16.129.109 | 17.091.263 |
Services
Container Terminal
The Port of Thessaloniki is the country’s largest export port and the main sea gate of the Balkans and Southeast Europe. Containers are handled through a specially designed area located in the western part of Pier 6. The 550m long and 340m wide Container Terminal is part of the Free Zone, connected with the national rail network, and extends over a surface area of 254,000 m2. For the time being, it can accommodate small and medium-sized ships (feeder vessels) with a draught of up to 12 meters and maximum capacity of 550,000 TEU.[12]
Conventional Cargo Terminal
The Port of Thessaloniki is the first Conventional Cargo Transit Port of Greece and one of the main ports in the Eastern Mediterranean. It has fourteen (14) quays suitable for all types of bulk and break bulk cargo, all of them connected to the national and international rail networks. The total length of quay walls is 4,200 meters.[12]
Cruise/Coastal Shipping

The Port of Thessaloniki has one of the largest passenger terminals in the Aegean Sea basin. The building of the passenger terminal, previously the customs house, was constructed in the last three years of the Ottoman period (1909-1912) by the local Jewish architect Eli Modiano, based on designs by the Franco-Levantine architect Alexander Vallaury.
The Passenger Terminal of the Port of Thessaloniki has facilities for the reception and service of passenger traffic (cruise and coastal ships). In recent years, Thessaloniki has been an increasingly popular cruise destination, thanks to its proximity to places of cultural interest as well as the port’s short distance from the city center. Regarding coastal shipping, seasonal connection is available between Thessaloniki and the Aegean islands.[12]
Logistic Activities/Development of Spaces
In the port zone, outdoor storage areas and warehouses are rented for logistics activities. Specifically, ThPA S.A. has 45,000 m2 of covered space for different types of logistic activities and 670,000 m2 of outdoor storage areas available for rent. At the same time, ThPA S.A. has outdoor and indoor facilities that can accommodate various activities and events.[9] ThPA S.A. has developed and operates two modern outdoor car parking lots in Piers No 1 & No 2, with a total capacity of 595 vehicles.[13]
Other

In the area above the port, traditionally called "Vardaris" (and "Varonou Hirs", Baron Hirsch, a quarter of the area), the Holocaust Museum of Greece, among others, is being constructed. The old railway station, from where the Jews of the city were deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, was located in this area and the museum is being constructed on land leased by the Hellenic Railways Organisation. The Municipality of Thessaloniki also wants to create a Metropolitan Park, a Memorial Park and a Jewish school in the same area.[15]
References
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port of Thessaloniki. |
- "UNLOCODE (GR) - GREECE". service.unece.org. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Invitation to submit an expression of interest for the acquisition of a majority stake in the share capital of Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A." (PDF). hradf.com. Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- Number of Employees 2020
- "Board of Directors - ThPA S.A. - Port of Thessaloniki".
- "Statistical Data 2019 & 2020, Name of the port: THESSALONIKI". EUROPEAN SEA PORTS ASSOCIATION. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- "Annual Financial Report 2020 - ThPA S.A. - Port of Thessaloniki".
- "Annual Financial Report 2020 - ThPA S.A. - Port of Thessaloniki".
- https://www.thpa.gr/files/general/thpa_brochure.pdf
- "Profile ThPA - athexgroup.gr". www.athexgroup.gr. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Athens-Macedonian News Agency". www.amna.gr. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - https://www.thpa.gr/files/general/Sustainability_Report_2019_EN.pdf
- "Parking Services - ThPA S.A. - Port of Thessaloniki".
- "Press Release 27.11.2020 - Thessaloniki Port Intermodal Rail Service 1st train itinerary - ThPA S.A. - Port of Thessaloniki".
- Kar., A. (12 June 2018). "Για τη δημιουργία δύο πάρκων στο χώρο του Μουσείου Ολοκαυτώματος συζήτησαν Γ.Μπουτάρης -Κ.Νοτοπούλου". www.amna.gr (in Greek). Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.