Marina di Zea

There is certainly no shortage of berthing options in the Athens area, but few marinas offer as many berths as the Zea Marina, a port located in The Piraeus, an adjacent city now incorporated into Athens that has been famous for centuries for its large commercial port.

A port that, history tells us, began in 500 B.C. as a shipyard and refuge for warships; over the centuries it has developed into what is now one of the most famous commercial ports, third in the world in terms of annual passenger numbers. Piraeus is “the port” of Athens, but alongside it many smaller, also high-quality marinas have developed that attract thousands of tourists each year.

Zea Marina is one such marina, which was completely renovated for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and is run by a private company that is also in charge of three other Greece marinas.

Its location is strategic; it is located in the western part of Athens Bay, within anatural inlet with a very special shape, offering good shelter from all winds.

Speaking of winds, in the Saronic Gulf-in which Zea Marina is located-the meltemi, the quintessential summer wind in Greece, does not blow as strongly as in other areas; it comes from the north and rarely exceeds 4-5 degrees on the Beaufort scale.

Approaching the area in front of Athens, when navigating one absolutely must pay attention to the traffic. Indeed, the other special feature of Zea Marina is that it is right “back to back” with the main ports of Piraeus: this means, therefore, ships of all types and tonnage sailing, maneuvering, and perhaps dropping anchor right next to you.

Traffic in this stretch of sea is regulated by a TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme), so pay close attention to permitted directions and speeds, entry and exit. In addition to large ships, also beware of smaller but faster ferries and hydrofoils taking tourists on trips.

Arriving at Zea Marina be guided by the two green and red lights placed at the entrance and contact the port staff via VHF (channel 9) to find out where and how to put in. The port is in fact divided into two zones: an outer one, called Freatida and bordered by a long breakwater, and an inner one with a circular shape, called Passalimani.

Zea Marina can accommodate up to 620 boats, arranged by moorers according to size along the docked banks and fixed and movable piers. Boats up to 80 meters in length can be moored, and 120 meters can be reached if mooring sideways; 8 meters is the maximum depth. Facilities are all concentrated in the area connecting the two port areas; there is also a refueling facility in the bottleneck leading from the outer port to the inner port.

Let’s talk precisely about services: the Zea marina is an all-too-small port compared to other privately run marinas, including Greek ones, which is why the services are there but not as varied as the total berth capacity might suggest.

First of all, there is a complete lack of shore berths, hauling and maintenance facilities. There is a real lack of physical space, as well as dedicated personnel. However, the marina does have divers capable of performing inspections and minor technical repair work underwater. Regarding all other types of maintenance/repair work, the marina is still able to refer you to specialized technical personnel present within a short distance. There is no shortage of nautical accessory stores nearby.

The essentials, however, are not lacking: columns with electricity, fresh water and drinking water can be found at each berth, toilets and showers, and refueling facilities.

On the security front, the marina has a 24-hour surveillance system via CCTV, and the entrance is guarded. There is no shortage of stores and absolutely no shortage of bars, restaurants, and various places to eat located along the docks.

For everything else, it has to be said that the Zea marina is really “inside” the city: just leave the ports and you can find everything within a few kilometers. Even a naval museum: if you want to deepen your culture, it is right next to the marina entrance! The city of Piraeus is also very lively, commercial and full of events and activities.If you want to spend a few days with your feet on land, there is no shortage of opportunities.

For sailing, too, there are several choices. The Saronic Gulf offers many opportunities and makes for good sailing, especially in summer; the Cyclades are also not far away, with their breathtaking scenery and little white houses.