Pyraeus seaport and his problem
Introduction :
http://mediterraneen.crdp-aix-marseille.fr/mediter13/echanger/ech_le-piree.htm
The Piraeus is a city situated in the suburbs of the capital city, Athens, at the weark of the region of Attic in Greece.
https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Le+Pir%C3%A9e,+Gr%C3%A8ce/@38.0443443,23.7778068,10z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x149eff8d3b1eed19:0x300bd2ce2b98080
It's also a huge marine and container port. The most frequented of Greece and also the largest of Europe.
The Piraeus has a marina, mostly tourristic. It offers various equipement an means of transport ( bus, boat, maritime shuttle), making the central harbour a hub of commercial and passenger slipping.
THE MARINA
http://www.quizz.biz/quizz-307672.html
THE SEAPORT
http://www.nvm.fr/le-piree-le-port-dathenes/
1. The Greek government rents part of the harbour of goods to earn money because it is involved in debt.
The harbour of goods accomodates a large number of cargo liners of goods, often coming from China because since 2008, it is rented partly by a Chinese company : Cosco global shipping giant.
Cosco has many activities. It is primarily an owner renting ships to other companies. It also carries goods on ships.It is also renting containers in the harbour to store the merchandises.
Cosco is a transnational firm because itrs leaders are working in Beijing, but its ships cross the oceans and stores are located on many continents.
http://www.challenges.fr/economie/20130507.CHA9156/le-port-d-athenes-bat-pavillon-chinois.html
2- The strategie of Cosco
The canal of Suez in Egypt permits to shorten the maritime itinerary between China and Europe.
http://www.voxeu.org/article/1967-75-suez-canal-closure-lessons-trade
Indeed, the Pireus is the nearest European shipping harbour to the canal of Suez. That's why Cosco, a giant shipping company owned by the chinese government, has chosen to lease the Pireus port.
3- Discontent Greek workers.
The dockers (Greek employees who load and unload cargo) ships went on strike because Cosco dismissed many Greek dockers, so they no longer want Cosco to run the port. This is a very long strike. They pronounced the speech "Cosco go home" because they work more to earn lower wages than before, when the Greek government owned the port.
Conclusion :
Lots of arrangements have been put to improve performance. The merchandises arriving in Piraeus by train will soon be sent very quickly to the port of Piraeus to leave Europe on a container ship and vice versa. Moreover a new terminal is being built to accomodate larger boats.