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Union Of Greek Shipowners News

06 Mar 2024

Posidonia 2024 Exhibitors Anticipate Paradigm Shift as AI Gains Traction

Source: Posidonia Exhibitions

The maritime industry, often viewed as conservative and measured in its approach to technological integration, is on the cusp of a transformative era with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a prominent player. Insights from key exhibitors at the upcoming Posidonia Shipping Εxhibition reveal a new landscape, where industry leaders strategically align with the inexorable rise of AI and consider adopting it already.According to Theodore Vokos, Managing Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A.…

19 Oct 2022

ABL Appoints New Country Manager in Greece

Maria Dragoumerli (Photo: ABL Group)

Energy and marine consultancy ABL Group has appointed Maria Dragoumerli to head up the company’s operations in Greece, with specific focus on the country’s maritime industry.Based in Piraeus, Dragoumerli will be in charge of driving the development of ABL’s service offering in the Greek market, in particular provision of support to the country’s extensive shipping and maritime industries.Dragoumerli joins ABL from Helikon Shipping Enterprises Ltd in London, UK, where she held the role of fleet technical superintendent.

21 Jun 2022

MAN ES, UGS Make Joint Decarbonization Commitment

Pictured in Athens (from left to right): John C. Lyras, former President, current Board member and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, UGS; Dionissis Christodoulopoulos, Managing Director, MAN Energy Solutions Hellas; Melina Travlos, President of UGS; Wayne Jones OBE, Member of Executive Board – Global Sales & After Sales – MAN Energy Solutions; Dimitris Fafalios, Secretary of the Board /Chairman of Maritime Safety & Marine Environment Protection Committee, UGS. Image courtesy MAN Energy

Following a meeting during the 2022 Posidonia trade fair in Athens, MAN Energy Solutions and the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) announced their mutual commitment to a policy of decarbonization, especialy in regard to the testing and development of alternative fuels and, more generally, the maritime value chain. This recognises the vital role that engine designers and manufacturers play, and that shipping’s decarbonisation requires the contribution of multiple stakeholders.The…

08 Feb 2022

Why Should Shipping Come Under the EU's Carbon Trading System?

© Kara / Adobe Stock

The European Commission has proposed adding shipping to the bloc's carbon market for the first time, in a move that is set to shake up the industry after years of avoiding pollution charges by the bloc.But already there is disagreement about how it will work given the complexities of the shipping industry and how fast it can decarbonize.Here is what is known so far about the process ahead.Why should shipping be included in the ETS?With about 90% of world trade transported by sea…

04 Feb 2021

North P&I Club Names Arklow Shipping's Tyrrell as Chair

James Tyrrell (left), newly-elected as chair of North P&I Club, pictured with Paul Jennings, North chief executive (Photo: North P&I Club)

North P&I Club has elected James Alexander Tyrrell as its new chair of the board, succeeding Pratap Shirke, in a change at the helm of the global marine insurer that also sees Ioanna Procopiou become the Club’s first female vice-chair.Tyrrell, a director of North member Arklow Shipping, takes up the role from February 4, having previously served as vice-chair of the North board. The formal announcement follows full approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises around 1…

07 Dec 2018

Union of Greek Shipowners Joins Arctic Economic Council

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) announced its acceptance as member to the Arctic Economic Council (AEC), the independent organization acting as the primary forum for interaction between the Arctic Council and the wider circumpolar and non-Arctic business communities.“Greek shipowners, who are hands-on operators and control 20% of the total world tonnage in deadweight and about 50% of the total European Union fleet, are primarily involved in cross trading activities carrying cargoes between third countries and their vessels are among the first to have navigated through the Arctic Sea route”, the President of the UGS,  Theodore Veniamis noted.Welcoming the UGS to the AEC, Mr.

19 Oct 2018

UGS Hails IMO Decision on Sulphur Cap

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) remains firmly committed to the successful transition to the 0.5 percent global sulphur cap in marine fuels and the related dates that have been agreed at the United Nations International Maritime Organization (UN IMO).At the same time, it fully supports the effective implementation and enforcement of the new regulation through the establishment of a UN IMO institutionalized data collection, analysis and review stage, as the minimum safeguard, given the safety and operational issues already identified.A press release from UGS said that this is in line with the traditional role of the UN IMO and the need to give priority to the protection of life at sea and the protection of the environment…

19 Oct 2018

Greek Shipowners Meet Danish Shipping

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) has welcome to its premises the Board of Directors of Danish Shipping in the context of the bilateral meetings of the two national shipowners’ associations.Representing two traditional maritime nations, the Board of Directors of Danish Shipping, headed by its Chairman, Niels Smedegaard, met with the President,Theodore Veniamis and members of the UGS Board of Directors and engaged in what was described by both sides as “an open and constructive dialogue” on an array of important shipping issues.“We appreciate the opportunity to exchange views and hold fruitful discussions with our Danish colleagues and we are particularly pleased that they share the same willingness for collaboration and mutual understanding of viewpoints and positions…

08 Jun 2018

Greek Shipowners Say EU Tax Pressure Could Make Brexit Britain Attractive

© vivoo / Adobe Stock

Greek shipowners could relocate to Britain after it leaves the European Union if European regulators demand changes to favorable shipping taxes in Greece, a top industry official said on Friday.The European Union has been pressing Greece to end generous tax allowances it grants shipowners, although the government has steered away from imposing heavy taxes on an industry that operates some of the world's biggest vessels."If the European Union threatens us ... obviously we will look at alternative options…

13 Dec 2017

ECSA Presidency Handed Over to Panagiotis Laskaridis

European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) has held its Board of Directors’ meeting and Niels Smedegaard of Danish Shipping and CEO of DFDS handed over ECSA Presidency to Panagiotis Laskaridis, Member of the Board of the Union of Greek Shipowners and CEO of Laskaridis Shipping and CEO of Lavinia Corp. Panagiotis will start his two-year term as ECSA’s new President from January 2018. Smedegaard will remain Board Member representing Danish Shipping. “I am very pleased of this trust, and committed to focus the European shipping agenda on shipowning matters, work with stakeholders for an efficient, competitive and future oriented European shipowning community’’, Laskaridis said.

01 Feb 2016

Shipping Must be Covered by ETS or Climate Fund – MEPs

The Paris climate agreement’s target of limiting global warming well below 2°C will be impossible without measures to curb shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions, MEPs told industry representatives last week. Including shipping CO2 in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) or having the sector contribute to a climate compensation fund were the options on the table, they said. MEPs from four political groups – the conservatives (EPP), the socialists (S&D), the liberals (ALDE) and the left-wing GUE – said the revision of the EU ETS, currently underway, needs to include shipping emissions in the EU 2030 climate target and contribute to meeting the Paris limits. Shipping is the only sector of the European economy not covered by the EU’s existing emissions reduction target.

21 Jan 2016

Greek Shipers Disagree with EC on Tax Issues

The European Commission recently published Decision (C(2015)9019 final / 18-12-2015) alleging that some provisions of the Greek shipping taxation regime are in breach of EU state aid provisions and, in particular, the conditions set out in the current Community Guidelines on State Aid to Maritime Transport (SAG). In response, the Union of Greek Shipowners issued a statement expressing its disagreement with the decision. “As the official representative of the Greek shipping sector, the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) has the duty to point out that there is no effective distortion of competition in the maritime field in the EU and that any fundamental changes to the institutional and fiscal framework in which the Greek shipping community is presently operating…

25 Nov 2015

Greek Shipowners Fiercing Protect Tax Breaks

Shipping minister says current measurement method not effective. On the day he took office as Greece's shipping minister in June 2012, Kostis Moussouroulis received a visit from a 90-year-old shipowner. He still remembers the older man's words: "Don't forget, the best minister of shipping and maritime affairs is the minister who is doing nothing for the shipping industry. That's the way Greek shipowners like it. The magnates who run one of the biggest merchant marine fleets in the world have long argued that if Greece tried to tax them, they would leave - and that their departure would devastate the economy. In recent years, as international institutions repeatedly bailed out Greece, the lenders have also pushed Athens to beef up its tax take.

08 Nov 2013

Doyle Talks LNG, Exports, Panama Canal with Japanese Officials

From left: Kazuhiro Yokoi (Chubu Electric Power Company), David Tubman (FMC), Yoshiro Taguchi (Japanese Embassy), Hidehiro Muramatsu (Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corp.), William Doyle (FMC Commissioner), Takashi Horie (Mitsubishi), and Nobukazu Nagai (Japan International Transport Institute, USA).

Earlier this week, Commissioner William P. Doyle met with Japanese public and private sector officials to discuss U.S. natural gas, exports, and the Panama Canal. Japan is the world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The country has relied on imported natural gas for decades as part of its energy portfolio. However, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, disabled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Subsequently Japan has increased its level of reliance on LNG imports. The U.S. may become an important LNG supply source for Japan in the coming years.

31 Oct 2013

Olivier Named UK Club Chairman

Alan Olivier, the new Chairman and President of the UK P&I Club

Alan Olivier was elected Chairman and President of the UK P&I Club at their board meeting in Bermuda on October 28. He succeeds Dino Caroussis who has retired from the board. Mr. Olivier, 53, Chief Executive Officer of Grindrod Limited, became a Director of the UK Club in 2000 and a Deputy Chairman in 2006. Mr. Caroussis, 61, of Chios Navigation, had been the Club’s Chairman for the past five years, having joined the board in 1996 in the shipping division. He held senior treasury and financial positions before his appointment as chief executive of Unicorn Shipping in 1995.

09 Oct 2013

Panama Canal Expansion: Future Toll Structure Discussed

Photo courtesy of ACP

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator Jorge L. Quijano has met with the Union of Greek Shipowners, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) to discuss the waterway's toll structure when the expanded Canal opens to commercial transits. The Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the waterway through the construction of a new set of locks, which will allow the transit of vessels with more tonnage capacity. Currently, the Expansion Program is 64.6% complete.

01 Aug 2013

Big Hitters Out in Force for ICS Conference

ICS Chairman, Masamichi Morooka

Shipping industry “big hitters” will be out in force for this year’s ICS Shipping Conference, being held by the International Chamber of Shipping at the British Library, London, on Wednesday September 11. Proceedings will be overseen by ICS Chairman, Masamichi Morooka. This year’s ICS event is being held in conjunction with the inaugural London International Shipping Week, which will see the worldwide maritime community gather in the U.K. capital for a multitude of events and meetings from September 9-13.

05 Jul 2013

Greek Shipowners Yet to See Light at End of the Tunnel

Greek Shipowners Union President Theodore E. Veniamis

The Greek Shipowners Union Report 2012-2013 notes that shipowners faced a double-whammy as Greece faced the most severe crisis in its national economy, which coincided with one of the deepest crises in the endemic cyclical nature of international shipping. "The international shipping downturn has not only been deep but also long in its duration due to three major factors: the reduction of cargo volumes transported, the overcapacity of tonnage, and theinability of the credit system internationally to provide sustainable finance.

02 Jul 2013

Statutory Alert: RightShip Inspection Procedures

A dry cargo ship inspection will be carried out by RightShip inspectors either when recommended by RightShip or when requested by the ship operator. On completion of any inspection, the RightShip Ship Inspection Report, if listing any deficiencies, and following RightShip’s review and assessment, will then be sent to the ship operator for review, comments and to advise what actions will be taken by the operator to address any deficiencies. Reported deficiencies that are considered to be of a serious nature and of a potential impact to the safety of the ship, the crew and or the environment shall have to be brought by the operator to the attention of the relevant classification society or flag administration as appropriate and are to be dealt with to the satisfaction of class / flag.

07 Jun 2012

Greek Shipowners Visit Posidonia 2012

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.

05 Jun 2012

Energy Efficiency Fuels Shipping Strategies at 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.

06 Jun 2012

Posidonia 2012 Opens

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…

07 Jun 2012

2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

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.