By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-09 10:52:50 | Updated at 2026-10-09 14:55:24
5 hours ago
Around 1,000 bombs and other pieces of World War II ordnance have been discovered on the seabed of the port of Thessaloniki. The items were detected during a magnetic survey near Pier 6, where a major port expansion project is currently underway.
The news was announced on October 6, and Greek media have continued to publish details about the discovery in the days since. According to local authorities, the estimated total weight of the munitions ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 tons. About 80 of the discovered objects weigh more than 50 kilograms.
The munitions were found in two key locations. Some lie beneath the concrete caissons forming the foundation for the Pier 6 expansion. Others are located in the port’s entry and exit zones, where seabed dredging is planned to accommodate larger vessels.
According to Greek media, the prevailing theory is that the munitions were dumped into the sea by German occupation forces during their withdrawal from Thessaloniki in 1944. However, this theory regarding their origin remains speculative and has not yet been definitively confirmed.
The discovery is already proving to be a significant obstacle to the port expansion project. Its management has requested urgent assistance from the Greek state for the safe recovery and removal of the munitions. The operation is beyond the capabilities of the port itself and the construction consortium, and will likely require the involvement of specialized units from the Greek armed forces.
The expansion of Pier 6 is a project valued at €195.6 million. Upon completion, the port is expected to be capable of handling the largest container ships.
Consequently, the munitions discovered underwater could pose a serious problem for the project schedule. They must be removed before the planned seabed dredging operations begin.
This is not the first instance of military ordnance being discovered during work on the project. In June of this year, a naval mine was found at a depth of approximately 28 meters during survey operations off the coast of Epanomi. Port authorities and the relevant unit of the Greek Navy were notified at the time and handled the task of making the device safe.
Illustrative photo: pexels-parlantzasg-5729710
