Port of Piraeus
The Port of Piraeus is Greece’s largest port and the main gateway for the country’s passenger and container traffic, located a few kilometers southwest of Athens on the Saronic Gulf.
From ferry hub to container gateway
Piraeus has long been one of the world’s busiest passenger ports, serving ferry routes to the Greek islands, but its modern significance rests on its container terminal. Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping acquired a majority stake in the Piraeus Port Authority in 2016 and has since built it into the largest container port in the Eastern Mediterranean, positioned as a gateway between Suez Canal traffic and Central and Eastern European markets — a key node in China’s Belt and Road-linked shipping investments.
Greek shipping context
Piraeus is also the traditional home of Greece’s shipowning and shipbroking community, which controls one of the largest merchant fleets in the world by tonnage even though much of that fleet rarely calls at Greek ports; see Greek shipping.
Port characteristics
- Size / type
- Large, Coastal, breakwater
- Shelter
- Excellent
- Entrance restrictions
- Affected by other factors
- Charted depths
- Channel23.2+ m (76+ ft)
- Anchorage23.2+ m (76+ ft)
- Cargo pier15.5–16.8 m (51–55 ft)
- Oil/LNG terminal11.0–12.2 m (36–40 ft)
- Terminal infrastructure
- Cargo handlingCargo pier charted (15.5–16.8 m (51–55 ft))
- Oil / LNG handlingOil/LNG terminal charted (11.0–12.2 m (36–40 ft))
Container-terminal handling is not classified by the WPI dataset, so this entry does not infer it.
- Max. vessel size
- Over 152 m (500 ft) length
- Also noted
- good holding ground
Facilities and services
The port is a first port of entry and requires an ETA message. Pilotage is compulsory, available, and advisable. Salvage and assist tugs are available. Pratique and a deratting certificate are available. Communications include telephone, telegraph, radio, radiotelephone, air, and rail. Cargo can be worked at wharves and Mediterranean moor.
The port offers medical facilities and dirty ballast reception. Fixed, mobile, and floating cranes are available, with lift capacity of 50–100 tons. Available services include longshore labor, electrical services, steam, navigation equipment repair, and electrical repair. Supplies on offer include provisions, water, fuel oil, diesel oil, deck supplies, and engine supplies.
Repair capability is rated major, there is a large drydock, and a medium marine railway.
Port infrastructure
Mapped within Piraeus Port (port).
- passenger port: Passenger Port of Piraeus View on map
- cruise port: Piraeus Cruise Port View on map
- ferry terminal: Piraeus Ferry Port View on map
- dry dock: Μεγάλη Δεξαμενή Βασιλειάδη View on map
- dry dock: Μικρή Δεξαμενή Βασιλειάδη View on map
- car terminal: Piraeus Car Terminal View on map
Notes and references
- NGA Pub. 150, World Port Index, 27th ed. (2019), index no. 42230, Pub. 132, chart 54346. Port characteristics are historical reference data; verify current depths, restrictions, facilities, and services with official notices.
- NGA World Port Index database (WPI.mdb), 2019. Facilities and services data.
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), captured 30 August 2026. Mapped physical features: Piraeus Port, Passenger Port of Piraeus, Piraeus Cruise Port, Piraeus Ferry Port, Μεγάλη Δεξαμενή Βασιλειάδη, Μικρή Δεξαμενή Βασιλειάδη, Piraeus Car Terminal.
- Operational roles: source 1.
- Record status: WPI-classified port.