Greek Ministry Of Development Competitiveness And Shipping News

A strong delegation of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) led by Chairman Theodore Veniamis visited the 23rd Posidonia Exhibition today where they met with many decision makers from the global marine community who converged to Athens once again to participate at the world’s biggest shipping trade event. The UGS members visited major exhibitors across the vast four halls of the 60,000 square-metres Metropolitan Expo and met with representatives from Far Eastern, US and European shipbuilders, marine equipment suppliers and classification societies. “This is the best and biggest Posidonia ever with more than 1,800 exhibitors from almost 90 countries.

The Minister of Development Competitiveness and Shipping, heads of international cruise sector bodies, senior officials from Greece’s port authorities and representatives from a wide spectrum of the cruising industry agreed today that state protectionism is a stumbling block that discourages the potential growth of the country’s sea tourism. They were addressing an audience of 200 cruise industry professionals who attended the 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum held today, Wednesday 6th June, at the sidelines of Posidonia 2012, the world’s biggest shipping trade event. According to the Minister of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping, Mr Ioannis Stournaras, Greece attracts 4.3 million cruise line passengers every year who spend some Euro 430 million at greek destinations.

The Greek Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikramenos presided today, Monday June 4th over the official opening ceremony of the international shipping exhibition Posidonia 2012. Many government officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of Greek and international maritime organizations attended the inauguration ceremony of Posidonia, the premier event of the global shipping industry. In his address, the Greek Premier said: “The participation of so many exhibitors at this year’s Posidonia…

As persistent high oil prices and the burden of increased regulatory compliance have rendered energy management strategy development crucial for fleet owners worldwide, the shipping industry is on the verge of a new frontier where novel concepts and sophisticated approaches to ship design and performance verification methods emerge. The world’s major ship building nations agree that a combination of a stubborn global recession and high fuel prices which affect global trade and impact newbuilding orders require innovative thinking, creative strategies and investments in R&D to create the foundations for a new generation of shipping infrastructure which will be more resilient to fluctuating heavy fuel prices and more adaptable to alternative forms of energy.

Some 250 shipping executives from 24 companies unraveled their football talent on the turf of Greek Superleague champions Olympiacos during the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, the last of the three sporting events which comprised this year's recreational and networking calendar of the Posidonia 2012 Exhibition week. The five-a-side event, which was organized by Posidonia Exhibitions S.A and Naftiliaki Filathliki Enosis, attracted over 300 spectators who enjoyed a football feast…