NIKOS BARDOUNIAS

The first stage of the international tender for the concession of the container station at the port of Piraeus ends today at noon, with the participation of at least two companies.

Well-informed sources said that in addition to Chinese company Cosco and British-Chinese company Hutchison, a third firm may emerge today, likely to be Singapore Ports Authority (SPA).

At the same time, employee unions are responding with two 24-hour strikes, expressing their opposition to the policy of letting private investors into commercial ports.

The bids of the two candidate contractors were reportedly finalized on Wednesday evening and their submission is expected by noon today. Therefore, the tender will be able to continue, in contrast with the estimates of some people who thought that it would not bear fruit because the proclamation terms were seen as too strict.

On Monday the committee specially appointed by Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) will open the bids, while the same procedure will follow a week later for the port of Thessaloniki; the first stage for the tender in Greece’s second port ends on May 15. Three bids are expected there, by Cosco, Hutchison and Dubai World Ports.