Piraeus

A pending draft law on the Piraeus Port Organization aims to pave the way for the submission of binding offers for a 51% stake of the Piraeus port by three candidate investors participating in the second phase of the tender (COSCO, AMP Terminals Maersk, ICTSI).

A vessel was seen burning off the port of Piraeus on Thursday in the early afternoon, with thick black smoke seen from shore. Coast guard vessels were headed to the spot where the unidenfied boat was burning.

By George Georgiopoulos & Karolina Tagaris

A senior Greek politician on Saturday issued an assurance that banks would remain open and asked people to remain calm, hours after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced a surprise referendum on bailout terms offered by foreign creditors.

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis on Tuesday appealed for help from the government and Greece's eurozone partners to manage the arrival of thousands of migrants and refugees in the Greek capital, warning that the situation could "spiral out of control."

The Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) created the new Museum of Underwater Antiquities aboard the floating museum “Hellas Liberty”. Built in 1934-36, the silo was once used for storing grain before its transportation abroad. The museum, to exhibit ancient relics found underwater, is expected to play a leading role in research and boost tourism to Piraeus.

Two percent fewer respondents said they would vote for ruling SYRIZA in the event of general elections compared to mid-May, a public opinion poll conducted by University of Macedonia for Skai has revealed, with the leftist party polling at 34.5 percent compared to 36.5 percent less than a month earlier.

By Ilias Bellos

With one eye on the country?s negotiations with its creditors, state sell-off fund TAIPED is proceeding with the tender for the controlling stake in Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), with a likely deadline for the submission of binding offers on September 17.

Convicted November 17 terrorist Christodoulos Xeros on Friday opted to give a ?political statement? in an appearance before an investigating magistrate rather than offer an explanation regarding his alleged involvement in a thwarted plan to help members of the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire guerrilla group escape from maximum-security Korydallos Prison last December.

The trial of Golden Dawn leaders and members was adjourned yet again Thursday and is to resume on Monday at a specially designed courtroom at Attica?s high-security Korydallos Prison despite objections by local authorities and residents to the choice of venue.

The Turkish branch of Azeri energy giant SOCAR will open the Petlim Container Port in the Aegean Sea this September to become an alternative to Greece's Piraeus Port for container shipments, according to Kenan Yavuz, the head of SOCAR Turkey and a board member of Petkim Petrochemical Holding.