Greece's OLTH says '08 net down 62 pct, better '09

* FY net 5.3 million euros

* Proposes 0.18 euro/share dividend

* Sees better 2009 results

ATHENS, March 30 (Reuters) - Greece's Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTr.AT) on Monday forecast better 2009 results after net profit fell 62 percent in 2008, hurt by dockworkers' action.

Net profit at Greece's second largest port slipped to 5.3 million euros ($7.01 million), from about 14 million euros in 2007, on a 25.5 percent drop in sales.

"The results reflect the effects of the labour action," Thessaloniki Port (OLTH) said in a statement. "We see better 2009 results."

Dockhands ended protests that lasted more than a year this month. A significant drop in cargo business hurt 2008 sales but the company said the January-February period had seen a 16 percent increase in cargo activity.

Greece launched a tender last year to upgrade the port's cargo facilities and turn the northern Greek city's port into a regional hub.

Hutchison Port (0013.HK), picked to upgrade and run the port's facilities for 35 years, pulled out of the tender in December citing the crisis and dockhands ended protests due to the expected cancellation of the tender.

The company, which is 74 percent state-owned, said it would propose a dividend of 0.18 euros a share for 2008.

At 1212 GMT, OLTH shares were trading down 1.19 percent at 9.97 euros. They have gained about 2 percent since the start of the year, outperforming the benchmark index .ATG down 6.42 percent.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by David Cowell)