Abstract
The Greek port industry is characterized by the dominance of the public sector in port activities. The ownership of port assets, corporate port governance and services provisiondevelop under strict, direct or indirect state (ministerial) control. As a result Greece standsamong the few countries in which the port industry is fully controlled by the public sector. Yet, the context, in which contemporary ports operate impels for greater flexibility in portoperations. Several countries worldwide have responded implementing port devolution programs. The latter have been accompanied by an increasing participation of the privatesector in port operations. In several EU countries several port reforms devolved the portindustry, allowing for the participation of private companies.