Bringing world-class marinas to Greece and beyond
A career anchored in marine construction
Nikolas Aslanidis has long been drawn to the sea. His background in civil engineering, specialising in marine works at the University of Thrace in Xanthi, Greece, led him naturally into the family business, Plokat S.A. There, he built extensive experience in port development and marine infrastructure.
In 2004, Plokat became part of the Aktor Group, Greece’s largest construction company. Now, Nikolas is embarking on a new chapter, forming SF Marina Greece in partnership with SF Marina International, reinforcing his longstanding role in the marina industry.
The SF Marina connection
Nikolas first connected with SF Marina in 1999 through a mutual acquaintance, a Greek captain who introduced him to Lars Gunnar Odhe, one of SF Marina’s key figures. That introduction led to a visit to SF Marina’s Wallhamn factory in Sweden, where he also met Anders Lindberg, the factory manager and co-owner.
“Lars and Anders had great energy and a clear passion for what they did. I immediately saw the potential of working with them,” Nikolas recalls. “By the time I left Sweden, I had a signed licence agreement between SF Marina and Plokat.”
This partnership marked the beginning of floating, all-concrete pontoon technology in Greece, a country known for its maritime tradition but, at the time, with few advanced marinas.
Unlocking Greece’s marina potential
Greece’s vast coastline and more than 500 harbours make it a prime destination for yachting. However, there are fewer than 40 fully developed marinas, with only 25 affiliated with the Greek Marinas Association.
“Our family business experience in infrastructure and marine works, concrete, and pre-cast elements made entering the pontoon sector a logical next step”, says Nikolas. “When we started 25 years ago, floating concrete structures were relatively new to Greece, but we quickly saw their advantages – not only for new marina projects but also for upgrading existing facilities without requiring major construction.”
Plokat set up its first casting production line in 2000 near a concrete batching plant. With the support of SF Marina’s Johan Jungevi, the team delivered its first floating pontoons that same year. After several relocations, the production line found a permanent home in Porto Lagos in 2004.
For many years, Greece’s marina sector was dominated by public ownership. Today, the majority of large marinas are privately owned or operated under long-term lease concessions.
“There are two primary customer segments in Greece’s marina market: privately managed marinas and smaller public marinas, within larger ports. Additionally, some private owners, restaurants, and hotels want to install pontoons on their waterfronts, though these projects are subject to strict regulations,” explains Nikolas. “For example, private docks are limited to 150 square metres and can only be in place for nine months per year.”
Competing in a dynamic market
SF Marina Greece operates in a highly competitive industry, going up against established players like Italy’s Ingemar and Finland’s Marinetek. Nikolas sees SF Marina’s local production and adaptability as key advantages.
“Clear communication and flexibility set us apart,” he says. “Since marina projects have long lead times, clients often make design adjustments. Thanks to our local production, we can accommodate these changes more efficiently than companies that rely solely on imports.”
A recent high-profile project is Marina Gouvia, on Corfu’s east coast. Originally opened in 1996 as Greece’s first privately owned marina, it has been undergoing major upgrades.
“In the first phase, completed in summer 2023, we installed 550 metres of pontoons. The second phase will add another 500 metres of pontoons and breakwaters,” says Nikolas. “A key challenge was replacing old docks without affecting the marina’s revenue stream. By pre-assembling the new docks and preparing pre-cast anchors and chains in advance, we were able to swap them in with minimal downtime. The entire process took less than two weeks.”
Expanding beyond Greece
Beyond Greece, SF Marina Greece also oversees operations in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania. Of these, Nikolas sees Albania as an especially promising market.
“Albania has a beautiful coastline and is investing heavily in infrastructure. Many Greek designers are already involved in waterfront projects there, which signals strong future potential,” he explains.
While SF Marina products have been available in Greece for years through Plokat, Aktor and its subsidiary TOMI, the launch of SF Marina Greece, signals a renewed effort and 100% focus on delivering high-quality floating structures to some of the world’s most scenic yachting destinations. As for Greece’s eternal appeal, it remains as strong as ever. “Ever since his first work with us here in 2000, Johan comes back every year for a holiday,” Nikolas says with a smile.
Nikolas Aslanidis, Greece
Gouvia, Greece
Cleopatra Marina, Greece
