May 2, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Serious reconstruction of the Corinth Canal – drone video


It seems that after many years of imitating violent activity with a cut of budget funds, the authorities are seriously engaged in the reconstruction of the Corinth Canal, as evidenced by the video filmed by the Up Stories drone.

Work on the installation of the underwater supports that will form the canal’s new course continues at a feverish pace, according to the Greek TV channel ΣΚΑΙ, to meet the timetable that the Corinth Canal should be returned to service at the beginning of the summer and be safer than ever for the passage of ships. .

The images taken by Up Stories with a dedicated drone with a powerful telephoto lens (zoom) are really impressive, as the size of the entire project is huge and has a high degree of complexity.

The authors of the ΣΚΑΙ story compare the size and complexity of the reconstruction of the canal with the creation of metro lines in Athens and Thessaloniki. Worth mentioning is also the huge inscription that was created on the side walls of the canal in an unknown way, in which the name Ζαχαρίας is mentioned.

The channel has been running in recent years permanent repair, for which hundreds of millions of euros were spent. And apparently, a new, serious source of funding has now appeared, which will allow for a normal reconstruction of the canal, which was opened at the end of the 19th century. It is worth remembering the words of government spokesman Yiannis Ikonomou, tweeted on July 4, 2022: “The Corinth Canal will be open in absolute safety for the next 3 months.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself, along with other ministers, company managers and local dignitaries, was on board the first ship to pass through the canal. The Prime Minister, as usual, with “undisguised pride” said that he was inspired by the progress of the repair work.

In the words of Mr. Mitsotakis, “There has been no significant intervention on the Corinth Canal in the last 130 years.” (But what about the previous costly repairs? Or are they all bad fronts?).

With a budget of 32 million euros, the restoration project is being carried out in two phases: first to unload the slope and clear the canal by July this year, and the second to stabilize the base of the slopes at the port, starting in autumn 2022.

However, literally immediately after the departure of the prime minister, another landslide occurred in the canal …

Pictured is a previous landslide


Local media reports: “It was a miracle that there was not a single accident with a passing vessel crossing the canal.” The competent authorities have ordered its closure until further notice, several media reports such as skai.gr , news24/7.gr and others, then, however, a refutation appeared or the pages with this news were deleted.

All that’s left is the video…

PS The Corinth Canal shortens the route from the Aegean to the Ionian by more than 400 kilometers, which means it can not only save time for ships, but also significantly save fuel and reduce carbon emissions.
PPS There are rumors that the canal is planned to be handed over to private investors for operation, following the example of almost all major national highways in Greece. Apparently it was from there that the money for the reconstruction of the canal came from.





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