OLTH is on a growth trajectory

The large port of the co-capital is currently on a growth trajectory. The Port Authority of Thessaloniki is coming to reap the change of rudder and is now ready to implement its innovative design for its upgrade: simultaneous service of large ships with a total length of 1 km, 11 cranes, blockchain, digital appointments for trucks and “trucks” Some of them.

A few days ago, at pier 6 of the OLTH, three ships docked at the same time. One of the three containers, with a length of about 400 meters, belongs to the category of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV), for which shipping orders worldwide have increased in the last two decades in Asian shipyards. It carries over 21,000 TEUs, while the other two ships are “feeders” (medium size ships), type “New Panamax”, with a length of about 350 meters each, each of which carries over 12,000 TEUs. In total, the length of the ships exceeds 1 km, while the movement of working vehicles next to them is not reminiscent of the old image of OLTH. Now an important part of catering to the Balkans and Europe, has as its European starting point Thessaloniki.

Ongoing projects

The recent acceptance of two new STS type cranes, six cranes are operating in the port – two of which are in the process of being upgraded – gives new possibilities. “New Panamax” type ships, with a capacity of 10,000 to 14,000 TEUs, will be able to serve directly, from the beginning of July, the port of Thessaloniki, thanks to the two new STS type cranes (“Ship-To-Shore”, from increase the unloading speed of containers by 40%. The two new crane bridges, with an investment of 15.7 million euros (before VAT), pave the way for the attraction of new lines in Thessaloniki and the service of “mainliners” ships, which connect Asia with Thessaloniki and the interior of the Balkans and of south-eastern and central Europe.

With the completion of the project of expansion of the 6th pier (something that is expected to happen in 2024), the port will be able to receive the so-called “motherships” (large hull ships, capable of carrying more than 14,000 TEUs) in addition to the “feeders “(medium-sized catering vessels

2024 is expected to be a milestone year for OLTH, as the works for the sinking in pier 6 will be completed, which will now be 17.7 meters after its expansion. Thus the service capacity is upgraded and it will be possible to simultaneously load and unload an Ultra Large Container Vessel and two supply ships, with a maximum total length of 1,080 meters.

At the pier, there will also be in 2030, based on the design, a total of 11 STS type cranes, one per 100 meters, while earlier, as part of the mandatory investments, the construction of an additional area in the “square” of SEMPO, with a width of 306.5 meters.

Blockchain, digital lorry appointments and “smart” containers

Leaps in digitalisation specifically in blockchain and in technologies such as TOS (Terminal Operating Systems), TAS (Truck Scheduled Transmission Systems), EDI Solutions (interconnector systems) and Intermodal e-services (intermodal) services are recorded from the end of 2021 and continue.

OLTH became part of the digital logistics platform “TradeLens”, supported by five of the six largest shipping companies in the world. The rest of the digital systems are about to be put into operation in a short time, drastically reducing the delays in the traffic and significantly increasing the speeds. In the summer, the entry of trucks in the port will be done by digital appointment (TAS). It is estimated that it will reduce the waiting time for heavy vehicles carrying containers to one third, drastically reducing the environmental burden of “marking” trucks and turning their engines on and off.