The port of Rafina, due to its geographical and strategic location within the Attica Port System, enhances its attractiveness in terms of passenger traffic, for the following reasons:

• Proximity to Athens Airport "El. Venizelos" and connection to a bus line.
• Proximity to extremely important tourist destinations (southern Evia, Cyclades islands) from the Center and Northeastern suburbs of Athens.
• Easy access for passengers that is set to be significantly upgraded in view of the upcoming road expansion of Attiki Odos, the widening of Marathon Avenue, and the planned arrival of the suburban railway.

Conditions for exploiting these opportunities and developing the port are:

• Its functional upgrade with the necessary port infrastructure and reconstruction projects, within the framework of the directions of the national port policy of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
• Further improvement of transport access conditions (road and rail).
• Ensuring the provision by the Organization to port users (coastal personnel and passengers) of modern/competitive port services in terms of quality and cost.
• Ensuring safe docking/navigation conditions in the port and the wider area.
• The promotion of conditions for the development and operation of the port that will ensure respect for the environment and the quality of life of the residents of the area.

Therefore, the main mission of the Rafina Port Organization S.A. is to ensure the above conditions and to consolidate the role of the Port of Rafina as a "Gateway Port" to southern Evia and the Cyclades islands. We are therefore called upon to respond rapidly to the requirements of the new institutional framework that is currently being formed in maritime transport so that the port of Rafina can become a modern functional and developmental factor on the port map of Greece and Europe.

In its current form, the port of Rafina consists of:

• from the newer, main port, which is located in the northern part of the bay of Rafina and includes a north windward pier, a south leeward pier and quays for servicing ferry boats, with a total length of approximately 300m,
• from the old port, which is located further south and includes a small leeward pier and quays for servicing passenger ships - catamarans and pleasure boats, with a total length of approximately 200m and
• from a fishing shelter north of the windward pier of the main port.

The main sectors in which O.L.R.A.E. operates today are:

• The provision of ship docking services and the movement of passengers and vehicles.
• The provision of services to ships such as water supply and waste management, etc.
• The concession of outdoor and covered spaces located in the Organization's land zone.
• The exploitation of parking spaces.

The fishing character, although it shows a lot of activity, has not been fully developed since the necessary infrastructure (fishing platform) has remained incomplete and non-functional. Environmental protection is a top priority and a continuous effort for O.L.R. S.A. The actions and actions of O.L.R. in this direction focus on the following axes:

• Operation of ship waste reception facilities in implementation of EC/59/2000.
• Assignment of a study for the construction of a biological treatment plant for urban wastewater in the port area.
• Installation in a place near the port of Meteorological Station.
• Installation at the port, a station within the framework of the National System.
• Aesthetic upgrading interventions in the port area. The promotion of safe navigation conditions in the area and port security is a strategic direction of O.L.R. S.A., to which the following projects will contribute:
  – Improving the port's functionality by implementing the necessary infrastructure projects and preparing a general planning plan with integrated technical spatial and traffic planning,
  – The construction of a Passenger Terminal for the implementation of controlled departure and arrival procedures for passengers and vehicles, as well as controlled access to the port,
  – The installation of a station within the national network,
  – The installation of a meteorological station and
  – The implementation of a system of planned maintenance of port infrastructure, areas and facilities.

PROSPECTS

The company's strategic objectives per activity for the 2015 time horizon are defined as follows:

Passenger Traffic (Coastal Shipping).

• Ensuring adequate funding and timely, high-quality implementation of the urgently needed port infrastructure/superstructures.
• Utilization of all existing port infrastructure and related future investments in the context of upgrading port security and the port services provided.
• Compliance with the requirements and exploitation of the opportunities of the new European institutional framework for Transport.

Pleasure Boat Traffic.

• Coordination / implementation of the conversion of the Old Port of Rafina into a modern tourist boat shelter.
• Upgrading and appropriate regeneration of the seafront of the Old Port of Rafina, ensuring free public access to it (upgrading the citizen-sea relationship).

Fishing boats.

• Completion of additional projects for the Fishing Refuge.

Other activities.

• Optimal utilization of infrastructure and renovation of the Organization's land area.
• Development of new modern port services to serve existing and potentially new users of the port.

The aforementioned strategic objectives must be implemented within the framework of the following strategic directions:

• Consolidation of the role of the port of Rafina in the Attica port system, within the framework of the national ports policy, through the exploitation of its strategic location.
• Utilization of community, public and private financial resources for the fastest possible implementation of the immediately necessary port infrastructure/superstructure projects and projects to upgrade transport access to the port.
• Implementation of the Development Program and Management Study (Master Plan) of the port.
• Gradual organizational and operational modernization of the Organization, mainly for the provision of qualitatively acceptable port services, within the framework of the return and self-financing of its own development - gradual assumption of responsibility for the operation of the port.
• Provision of attractive/competitive port infrastructure and services in terms of quality and cost, effectively contributing to meeting the demand for maritime transport in the wider Attica region (complementarity with the other ports of Attica), within the framework of the European transport policy guidelines (White Paper), effective communication of the port's service activities/advantages to its potential users (shipping companies, passengers, etc.)
• Promotion of safe navigation conditions in the region and port security (land and sea zone).
• Ensuring good cooperative relations with the local community and local government - contributing to the development and upgrading of the quality of life of the residents of the area.
• The prospect of expanding, improving and promoting the passenger, tourist and fishing character of the port of Rafina is a key objective of O.L.R. S.A.

The projects required to achieve this goal, as planned by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus, are presented in the investment program of the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus. S.A. The action plans that the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus is called upon to implement in the next five years focus in order:

• In the modernization and upgrading of its port infrastructure, so as to make it possible to provide modern port services in the consolidation and development of its operational functions and activities, with the main and primary objective of modernizing and improving the services provided.
• The detailed evaluation of medium-term and long-term strategic options, so that on the one hand they can optimally prepare the Organization for its next steps in development, and on the other hand they can make it modern, efficient and competitive in the new emerging port services market framework.