- Port of Killini listed among 12 Greek harbors to get cold ironing by 2029
- €1 billion program for new eco-friendly ferries serving island routes
- EU and EIB provide €1 billion in funding for fleet modernization
- Subsidies for “unprofitable” routes have nearly doubled since 2019
- Free tickets and discounts for vulnerable groups and island athletes
A Port Few Talk About, But Many Rely On
Killini rarely makes headlines outside ferry timetables, but it just became a name in the grand “green shipping” saga. At a conference on Green Ports and the Future of Sustainable Shipping, Deputy Minister Stefanos Gikas reminded everyone that this little port on the Peloponnesian coast is part of the big picture: it will be one of 12 Greek harbors able to plug ships into shore power by 2029.
Cold ironing may sound like something you do to shirts, but in practice, it means ferries dock, switch off their diesel engines, and draw clean electricity from the pier—less noise, less smoke, happier tourists eating their ice cream without a lungful of exhaust.
Where the Billions Float
The numbers are not small.
- €300 million from the EU Modernization Fund
- €700 million from the European Investment Bank
- Total: €1 billion to build a fleet of cleaner ferries, mainly for inter-island routes.
As Gikas put it, “Killini Port is among the country’s most important harbors, with significant development prospects.” Translation: it is small, but Brussels is footing the bill to make it look big.
Meanwhile, subsidies for the so-called “unprofitable” routes have almost doubled, from €90 million in 2019 to €167 million today. That is the cost of keeping boats sailing to islands where passengers are fewer than goats.
Beyond Diesel and Into Politics
Gikas also waved the flag for new Coast Guard equipment under the “AIGIS 2” program, a reminder that the green transition is also about faster patrols and shinier vessels. And, in a nod to voters, he mentioned free or discounted ferry tickets for vulnerable groups and even athletes of island sports clubs.
In the minister’s words: “Upgrading regional and island ports is a strategic choice, as they add value to local societies, boost tourism and local economies.”
In other words: greener ferries, cleaner harbors, happier tourists, and a photo op or two for politicians.
