Greek-owned shipping controls 21% of the world fleet

Her Anastasia Vamvaka

The world-established shipping exhibition of Poseidonia returns for decades this year, after 4 years of absence due to the pandemic, with strong bases.

The message of Greece’s strong position in the global shipping industry was sent by the president of the Hellenic Shipowners Association Melina Travlou in view of the exhibition.

As he emphasizes, Greek-owned shipping retains its leading role in the industry, currently representing 21% of the global fleet and 59% of the European fleet.

In particular, it controls 32% of the world tanker fleet, 25% of the bulk cargo vessels and 22% of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) fleet.

He also stressed that the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association is committed that Greek shipping, as a world leader in the industry, will be at the forefront of initiatives to adopt sustainable policies for the benefit of sustainable development, the protection of the planet and the proper functioning of the global ecosystem.

Greece remains the largest naval power in the world according to the data of the Hellenic Shipowners Association. According to the EU report, Greece continues to increase its share of the fleet controlled by the European Union (EU).

Greek shipowners own 59% of the EU tonnage. More than a third of the Greek-owned fleet, or 1,706 ships, fly the flag of an EU Member State, while continuing to invest in newly built ships.

In the first four months of 2022, Greek shipowners have already given $ 2.023 billion for the purchase of 105 ships, of which 54 are cargo (worth 1.1 billion), 46 tankers (794.3 million), three container vessels (worth 55 million).

The Greek shipping companies have given 16.1% of the funds that have been invested so far in the used car market and have acquired 14.9% of the ships that changed hands. The average age of the Greek-owned fleet (9.54 years) is lower than the average age of the world fleet (9.87 years).

At the same time, the Greek fleet is one of the safest in the world. Specifically, Greece remains on the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) White List of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and on the White List of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) and the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (Tokyo MoU) . Also, 0.44% of the Greek merchant fleet (based on the number of ships) and 0.50% (based on tonnage) are involved in minor maritime accidents.

The message of the President of the EUSR in detail:

“The world-established shipping exhibition of Poseidonia for decades returns this year, after 4 years of absence due to the pandemic, with strong bases, so that, not only to meet the high expectations of the international shipping community, but also to exceed them.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome international exhibitors and visitors to our country, the seat of the world’s largest shipping company, to participate in this prestigious global shipping institution.

Our Greek-owned shipping retains its leading role in the industry, currently representing 21% of the global fleet and 59% of the European fleet.

In particular, it controls 32% of the world tanker fleet, 25% of the bulk cargo vessels and 22% of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) fleet.

Greek and consequently European shipping provides a strategic advantage to the European Union in its effort to ensure its logistics adequacy and independence.

It is worth noting that during the four-year period since “Poseidonia 2018”, the shipping industry continued to serve uninterruptedly 90% of world trade.

In an unstable global environment, shipping has functioned as a beacon of stability, responding to the unprecedented conditions we face in recent years with the international health crisis, but also in recent months with the crisis in Ukraine.

Once again, the shipping industry has highlighted its strategic dimension and its crucial contribution to the well-being of the citizens of the global community.

In this context, the international shipping event of Poseidonia 2022, will be the ideal environment to highlight the crucial, multi-level and irreplaceable role of the shipping industry in the global economy.

With a strong international interest in tackling climate change, Poseidonia 2022 will also be an excellent step in promoting the environmental footprint of global shipping, as well as the environmental performance of the Greek-owned fleet.

At the same time, they will offer a unique communication platform of the most innovative and technologically advanced possibilities of modern operation of the industry, with special emphasis on applications that lead to the gradual decoupling of shipping from coal.

I would especially like to emphasize the timeless commitment of Greek shipping to the promotion of “green shipping”.

Greek shipping, utilizing its accumulated know-how and experience, charts developments, always with realistic proposals and substantial goals such as research and development of alternative marine fuels, environmentally friendly.

In addition, we support any documented effort aimed at an even more environmentally friendly, but also internationally competitive shipping.

The Hellenic Shipowners’ Association is committed that the Greek shipping industry, as a world leader, will be at the forefront of initiatives to adopt sustainable policies for the benefit of sustainable development, the protection of the planet and the proper functioning of the global ecosystem. ”