While touring the Piraeus Port container terminal by bus, I observed the many moving parts collaborating to load and unload shipping containers on and off vessels. There was a significant number of trucks, empty and carrying shipping containers, driving around the container terminal grounds. This coordination required operators on foot, by the access gate, to maintain safety and security. Since the container terminal is a restricted area, there was only one entrance and exit, with the perimeter secured by fencing. Every truck driver was pictured through their windshield and had to verify with the security worker before entering the terminal. On the bus tour, I saw three different parts of Piraeus Port and the natural deep sea. Our attention was directed to massive grey blocks, which were filled with material. Since Piraeus Port is a natural deep-sea port, it required many of these blocks to establish a sturdy and level surface. They combined to make the port’s foundation, which the heavy machinery that operated the shipping containers could sit atop. I saw both the old orange and new blue generation of container handlers. These large structures had multiple pulleys and tracks to hold and maneuver the shipping containers around the water. I saw a blue handler operating as it was unloading a mother vessel. This process takes days to complete as the large vessels can hold tens of thousands of shipping containers. The containers were brought on land to be emptied before being stored for future use. The empty containers were handled by a specialized lifting vehicle for storing in large, organized piles. It was captivating to see the process unfold, as I learned earlier today, at our UNIC lecture, that shipping is an insignificant emission contributor compared to other modes of transport.
Above is a picture of Poseidon’s Temple. We were not permitted to take pictures of Piraeus Port, so this will serve as my blog post picture.