New passenger terminal at Souda port

A tender for building the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Souda port was launched on 3rd December by the ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in conjunction with the government’s privatisation fund, TAIPED. The latter’s Project Preparation Facility has been designated by the ministry as the body responsible for the preparation and management of the tender and the project’s execution.

The budget for the project is €12.9 million, and funds will come from the National Recovery and Resilience Fund, Greece 2.0, under the EU’s €800 billion stimulus package, NextGenerationEU, which aims to help member nations recover from the pandemic and progress towards what it describes as “a greener, more digital, more resilient future”. The closing date for the tender is 7th January 2025.

The new passenger terminal at the port of Souda.
Architect’s rendering of the exterior of the new passenger terminal at the port of Souda. It would appear from the illustration that disembarking passengers will arrive in the terminal on the first floor via elevated walkways. Photo: A-G Architects.

The new passenger terminal, to be constructed within the port of Souda, will consist of a basement, ground floor and first floor with a mezzanine and will be organised into three sections:
— The Base: Reception areas, check-in, office space, tourist offices, customs, tourist police, toilets, ancillary spaces, as well as spaces for access and circulation.
— The Shell: Waiting areas on the first floor, with the capacity for separating domestic and cruise passengers and incorporating areas for metal detection and sanitation control. It consists of a unified linear structure with an internal mezzanine and refreshment counter.
— The Belvedere: An open-air overflow area for arriving passengers on the first floor, with a view of the port.

The aim of the project is the qualitative and operational upgrading of the port of Souda, with the creation of high-specification port facilities, but also to boost the prospects for tourist development in the wider area. The tender specification includes the full construction of the new passenger terminal, including all static, architectural and electromechanical works, and delivery of the building ready for operation.

The ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy has entrusted the Project Preparation Facility of TAIPED with tendering the work of vital upgrades to dozens of port facilities in island regions, so that in the coming years the country’s ports will provide a strong stimulus for sustainable development.
(Haniotika Nea, 04-12-24/APE-MPE)