Today, Thursday, October 4th, the Israeli Ambassador in Greece, Mrs. Irit Ben-Abba visited the Port of Thessaloniki and had a fruitful meeting with the BoD Chairman & CEO of ThPA S.A. Mr.  Sotirios Theofanis. 

During the meeting, which took place in a very good spirit, Mr.  Theofanis presented the Company's strategy on the modernization and development of Thessaloniki Port which could become a hub of intermodal transport in the Balkans and the broader region.  

After the meeting, Mrs. Ben-Abba was shown around the Port premises.

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The tender for the award of services of The Independent Engineer was completed. The afore mentioned will undertake the supervision and evaluation of the mandatory investments of € 180 million, to be implemented at the Port of Thessaloniki within the next seven years, according to the signed Concession Agreement.

The scheme consisting of the following companies SALFO & ASSOCIATES S.A. - AECOM LIMITED - SAMARAS & ASSOCIATES S.A. was selected as The Independent Engineer.

It is noted that in the context of the tender process, conducted by ThPA S.A., four offers were submitted from the following company schemes:

• HILL INTERNATIONAL N.V. – MARNET S.A.
• INROS LACKNER SE
• SALFO & ASSOCIATES S.A. – AECOM LIMITED – SAMARAS & ASSOCIATES S.A.
• EPTISA SERVICIOS DE INGENIERIA S.L. – TRITON CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTD. – MOTT MACDONALD LIMITED

ThPA S.A. signed a MoU with Rutgers University, one of the oldest US higher education institutions. 

The agreement was officially announced yesterday, Saturday 15^th of September 2018, by the BoD Chairman and CEO of ThPA S.A., Sotirios Theofanis, and the Director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation of Rutgers University, Dr. Ali Maher, during the special event that was held at the Company’s pavilion, within the framework of the 83^rd Thessaloniki International Fair.

The event was also attended by the Consul General of the USA in Thessaloniki, Mr. Gregory W. Pfleger.

The Memorandum of Understanding aims at developing common research, educational and know-how transfer related programs, projects and activities, in such fields as intermodal transport, ports and Logistics.

“This is a chance to exchange research experiences and apply new technologies at the Port of Thessaloniki, as an experimental field of practical application” stated Mr. Theofanis stressing that the cooperation concerns, inter alia, the field of new technologies such as technologies for the ‘Port of the future’ and environmental protection issues. Furthermore, cooperation also extends to other thematic areas such as the development of technologies for monitoring the state of the infrastructure and recording/managing the traffic of heavy goods vehicles arriving in the Port.

For his part, Mr. Maher stressed that maritime transport is a key component of our national economies underlining that ports like the one in Thessaloniki, are essential for both the regional economy and the national economy in Greece.

The CAIT Director stressed that both he and his associates are looking forward to this cooperation with the Port of Thessaloniki in order to face maritime transport-related challenges, such as goods and cargo handling, port asset management, resilience and, more generally, development of technologies and innovative solutions to address such problems.

In his short address, Mr. Pfleger stressed that the relations established within the framework of the 83^rd TIF and, in particular, the educational relations with US Universities are very important for the US Consulate General in Thessaloniki and the entire diplomatic mission in Greece.

Rutgers University was set up in 1766 in New Jersey and now has 69 000 students and 22 500 teachers and employees. The Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, which constitutes the largest transport research center of Rutgers University implements research projects and programs in a number of thematic areas in the fields of infrastructure and transport. The new methods and technologies developed at research level, are also used in practice in real conditions.

Alongside research, the Centre trains over 7 000 professionals yearly through over 200 courses.

  

Captions:

Photo 1 & Photo 2 : From left, the Consul General of the USA in Thessaloniki, Mr. Gregory W. Pfleger, the BoD Chairman & CEO of ThPA S.A., Mr. Sotirios Theofanis and the Director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation of Rutgers University, Dr. Ali Maher

Photo 3: The BoD Chairman & CEO of ThPA S.A., Mr. Sotirios Theofanis and the Director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation of Rutgers University, Dr. Ali Maher during yesterday’s event at ThPA S.A. pavilion

As regards the recent decision of the Director of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) to abolish the third shift at Thessaloniki A’ Customs, and following an evaluation of all available data, ThPA S.A. stresses the following:

1. The big investment regarding the takeover of ThPA S.A. majority stake was based on the essential condition that the Greek State would provide the audit mechanisms required for the operation of Thessaloniki Port on a 24-hour basis.
2. The abolishment of the third shift at Thessaloniki A’ Customs causes essential operational problems to the services provided by ThPA S.A. Consequently, we believe that it must be revoked immediately.
3. ThPA S.A. is in the process of implementing a program of extraordinary investments including the construction of the necessary works and the supply of equipment and software of over 10 mn euros, to ensure that by 31 March 2019 at the latest, the containers meant for export will be provisionally stored in the Container Terminal.

Moreover, in a recent meeting with the Director of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR), the ThPA S.A. Administration asked to increase the available staff of A’ Customs to better serve the peak hours of Gate 16 during the 1^st and 2^nd shift. IAPR is expected to respond to this request.

The Annual General Meeting of ThPA S.A. convened today, Thursday June 28, 2018 in Thessaloniki and approved the Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year 2017 and the distribution of Dividend of € 0.45 per share.

In the General Meeting, the 78.42% of the Shareholding Capital was represented and the activities and the Financial Results for the Fiscal Year 2017 were presented.

According to the financial results, the Company’s turnover for the Year 2017 reached an amount of € 54.2 million as compared to € 48.1 million in the Year 2016, showing an increase of 12.84%. Earnings before Tax reached € 12.5 million as compared to € 21.1 million in the Year 2016, showing a decrease of 40.83%, while Earnings after Tax reached € 7.2 million as compared to € 14.1 million in the Year 2016, showing a decrease of 48.57%. These results are attributed to significantly increased depreciation relating to the re-evaluation of the useful life of the mechanical equipment; the assets impairment relating to obsolete and underutilized assets; and the substantial increase in provisions, reflecting realistically third parties’ claims.

The Chairman of the BoD and CEO of ThPA S.A, Mr. Sotirios Theofanis, referred to the high growth potential of the Company, entering a period of reorganization and modernization. “The new Management Team established last March, has mapped the existing situation in all port’s sections and activities and currently has a clear and realistic picture of the situation. The first Tenders for the procurement of modern cargo handling equipment are underway, while the effort to improve the port’s operation has shown its first results. During the first five months of the Year 2018, container traffic showed an increase of 10% (in TEUs) compared to the same period of the Year 2017, providing us with optimism for the future development. Based on this five months container traffic performance, it is estimate that the annual container throughput will reach an annual figure of 430.000 – 435.000 TEUs. We strongly believe that the Obligatory Investment Program implementation of € 180 million, to be shortly initiated, will provide a strong momentum for the development of the port. Provided that the maturity period will be short, we are determined to complete the Pier 6 Extension Project, being the backbone of our Investment Plan, in approximately 4.5 years, namely much earlier than our contractual obligation”, Mr. Theofanis pointed out.

The Management Team of ThPA SA expresses its deep sorrow over the passing away of Jacques R. Saadé, Founding President of the CMA CGM Group.

Jacques R. Saadé has been established as a global figure who played a key role in shaping Container Transport Sector and has been globally distinguished for his vision for this Sector. His work and his ideas will continue to determine the Liner Shipping Industry in the future.

We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his family and to the large family of CMA-CGM.