The Port Authority of Corfu (OLKE S.A.) has joined the cross-border ARGONAUT project under Interreg VI-A Greece-Italy 2021-2027. The goal is simple: cleaner shipping and greener maritime tourism in the Ionian and the Adriatic. The move follows a kickoff meeting in Taranto, Italy on 30 September 2025 and puts Corfu on the map as one of the pilot hubs.
OLKE says the programme will upgrade port infrastructure and lift the international profile of Corfu and Greece in nautical tourism. At the meeting, OLKE’s CEO Dimitris Apergis spoke with Gianfranco Gadaleta, Coordinator of the Interreg Greece-Italy Joint Secretariat, and Dimitris Katsaros, Secretary General of the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian.
ARGONAUT tackles environmental, economic and social issues in the Greece-Italy maritime area. The focus is on coastal zones and marinas that face heavy seasonal traffic and pressure on local ecosystems. Teams from Italy and Greece will work together on digital tools, skills, communication, and pilot use of green technologies.
How will the project impact the city?
In Corfu, the pilots aim for a green transformation of port areas: charging points for electric boats, digital services that suggest safer and cleaner routes, and training that gives local operators practical new skills. The expected results? Less noise and fewer air emissions in peak season, better service for visitors, and steadier support for the island’s tourism economy.
What has changed since last time?
OLKE plans to build on lessons from past European and Interreg projects, rolling out new digital solutions and green mobility measures. The Decentralized Administration will share the results across three regions so the benefits don’t stop at the island’s edge.
What will residents gain?
Residents can expect cleaner waterfronts, quieter operations, and traffic that’s better managed in the busy months. Local professionals will get access to training-both classroom and hands-on-covering sustainable navigation and port management, so they can build new skills.
What will change for boaters and operators?
A key piece is the Adriatic Maritime Route Planner, an AI-assisted platform that suggests safer, more energy-efficient routes in real time. The project will also set up the ARGONAUT Network, a cross-border group for sharing good practices among ports and marinas, including Gallipoli, Corfu and Patras.
Who is involved and what are their roles?
The Italian lead partner will coordinate the project and build the Route Planner. Regional bodies in Apulia and the Municipality of Gallipoli will back training, skills, and outreach. In Greece, OLKE runs the digital and green mobility pilots in Corfu; the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian shares the results; and the Port Authority of Patras adds infrastructure expertise with a pilot use of green technologies.
Who participated in the kickoff?
The meetings in Taranto brought together OLKE’s CEO Dimitris Apergis, Interreg’s Gianfranco Gadaleta, and Secretary General Dimitris Katsaros. That gathering marked the official start of the work.
When will pilot works begin?
The project is now in its first phase after this week’s kickoff. Detailed budgets and timelines for Corfu, such as when charging stations and digital tools will be installed, were not disclosed in the source and will be confirmed by the partners in upcoming updates.
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