First of all a very Happy 2006 to all members of this Forum.
We found some information of a new large container terminal to be built near Timbaki, which makes me sad. The terminal will have the dimensions of Pireaus port!
Beachcombers
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/ 22 Nov 2005
Quote
(ATHENS) China's state-owned China Shipping Group may launch a project to
develop a transshipment container terminal on the Greek island of Crete, the
Merchant Marine Ministry said recently.
The company's president, Li Kelin, wrote to Greek Merchant Marine Minister
Manolis Kefalogiannis, stating that after visiting a number of European
locations, 'Crete was the highlight'. 'The geographical location of Crete
makes it an ideal choice to develop a transshipment centre for the East
Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea,' Mr Li added.
Mr Li said that the port of Timbaki on Crete's south coast 'with all its
features is a good site for transshipment terminals'.
The shipping group is one of the world's largest and its intention to set up
a transshipment centre in the Mediterranean region was a reflection of
China's growing exports to Europe.
In his letter, Mr Li said that establishing China Shipping's own
transshipment hub in the Mediterranean was firmly on the company's agenda,
given the rapid growth of the company's container volume on its Far
East-Mediterranean services.
The company has carried between 800,000 and one million containers to the
Mediterranean so far this year. China Shipping operates a total fleet of 400
vessels. - AP
unquote
