The Lesvos Port Fund, based in Mytilene, was established through the merger of the port funds of the island of Lesvos, in accordance with the Royal Decree of 21/19.3.1941 (Government Gazette 97/A/31.3.1941). Under Presidential Decree 390/20.9.1993 (Government Gazette 165/A/27.9.1993), the Port Funds were merged at the prefecture level. From the merger of the Port Funds of Lesvos and Lemnos, the Port Fund of the Prefecture of Lesvos was created, based in Mytilene. This was later divided again into the Port Fund of Lesvos and the Port Fund of Lemnos, based respectively in the cities of Mytilene and Myrina, according to Presidential Decree 258/23.6.1995 (Government Gazette 142/A/7.7.1995).
The Port Funds operate under the Royal Decree 14/19.1.1939 (Government Gazette 24/A/19.1.1939) “on the codification of the provisions concerning Port Funds.” Their purpose is the construction and maintenance of port works.
By Presidential Decree 53/13.5.2016 (Government Gazette 86/A/13.5.2016), the Lesvos Port Fund was abolished and replaced by a Legal Entity of Public Law (L.E.P.L.) under the name “Municipal Port Fund of Lesvos.” The responsibilities of the abolished Lesvos Port Fund were transferred to the Municipal Port Fund of Lesvos.
According to Article 244 of Law 3463/2006, the following are defined:
“1. Port Funds established as municipal legal entities of public law under the provisions of Article 28 of Law 2738/1999 (Government Gazette 180 A’) operate according to Articles 239 and following, and the specific provisions of this law.
2. In the administration of these legal entities, among the members of the Board of Directors designated under paragraph 1 of Article 240, the head of the port authority of the legal entity’s seat must be included. If no such authority exists in that location, then the head of the nearest port authority is included.
3. Specifically, if the geographical area of responsibility of a port fund extends within the boundaries of more than one Local Government Organization (L.G.O.), it acquires an inter-municipal character.
The number of members of the Board of Directors is set at nine (9) when the geographical area extends within two LGOs, eleven (11) within three LGOs, and up to fifteen (15) within more than three LGOs.
The number of elected representatives from each participating LGO is determined by dividing the number of board members by the number of participating LGOs. If there is a remainder, the corresponding board positions are allocated one by one to the participating LGOs with the largest populations.
If the resulting total exceeds the set number of board members, the number of elected representatives is reduced by removing representatives from the less populous LGOs—and, in the case of islands, first from the less populous LGOs of the island where the seat of the Municipal Port Fund is located.
The president of these legal entities and the non-elected members of the Board of Directors are appointed by decision of the municipal council of the entity’s seat.
4. Wherever the relevant provisions governing municipal legal entities of public law refer to a municipal council or mayor, for the above legal entities, this means the council and mayor of the municipality where the entity is based.
5. In the entities described in paragraph 3, the Internal Service Regulation may provide for the operation of autonomous offices outside the entity’s headquarters.
6. It is possible to relocate the entity’s headquarters, described in paragraph 3, to a coastal area following an opinion of the Board of Directors and a decision by the councils of the participating LGOs. The relocation is carried out in the same manner as originally established.
7. In all other respects, the provisions of Article 28 of Law 2738/1999 (Government Gazette 180 A’), as amended, apply correspondingly.
Its area of jurisdiction covers the coasts of the island of Lesvos, and it has authority over the land zones of the ports of Mytilene, Panagiouda, Pamfila, Thermi, Skala Mystegna, Skala Sykamnias, Mythimna, Petra, Gavatha, Sigri, Skala Eresos, Skala Kallonis, Skala Polichnitou, Plomari, Perama, Dipi, and Kountouroudia.
By Joint Ministerial Decision 8315.2/02/07/2.2.2007 (Government Gazette 202/B/16.2.2007) “Port Classification,” the port of Mytilene was designated as a Port of International Interest.
