Greece’s Corinth Canal closed for more than three months

The Corinth canal has revolutionised Greece’s maritime activity and has since become one of the most important modern-day infrastructures within the country.

The canal has been closed to maritime traffic since January 2021 due to damage caused by landslides, making the passage dangerous. Maintenance and repairs are currently underway however no date has yet been given as to when it will be back up and running.

The initial inspections are expected to be completed in September. Then the construction for the project will go up for bid, and the preliminary works on the sides of the canal will begin subsequently.

Thousands of visitors typically pass through the Ionian and Aegean seas on yachts and cruise ships each summer, however as Greece prepares to open back up to tourism, this year, visitors will be forced to take the much longer and costlier route via the Peloponnesian peninsula.

Commercial shipping throughout Greece is already suffering due to the rising costs of fuel and transporting goods. This may result in medium to long term price increases, economists fear.

Last Saturday, Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the canal.

Mitsotakis said, “It is a very important project, and we should not forget that it was built in the 19^th century. The time has come now, in the 21^st century, the time has come for the necessary interventions.”

Restorations are expected to cost €9 million (c. £7.8 million).

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Source: Greek Reporter