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Greek shipping in a historical record of more than 5,000 seagoing ships

His George Lampiris

For the first time in its history, Greece surpassed the landmark point of 5,000 seagoing ships.

The specific event was announced by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Giannis Plakiotakis, in the context of information on the bilateral relations between Greece and Panama organized by the Network for Reform in Greece and Europe.

At the same time, the creation of the Greek embassy in Panama is in the final stages with the joint support of both Greece and the Central American state. As early as 1999, there was a proposal of the Parliamentary Committee published in the Official Gazette, which had proposed the establishment of an embassy in Panama.

The relations between the two countries are mainly located in the field of maritime cooperation. It is noted that the first captain to cross the Panama Canal was the Greek, Nikitas Mavrakis. The relationship between the two states was also reflected in the election of the Greek-born president of Panama, Dimitrios Laka Bacha, while the Greek community maintains a strong presence in this state.

The creation of the Greek embassy in Panama is expected in 2023

At present, Greece is represented in Panama through the Greek consulate, while regarding the promotion of the consulate to an embassy, ​​it is estimated that it is something that will be completed formally in 2023, as the former ambassador of Panama told Capital.gr and general manager of Panama Shipping Agency & Services, Antonis Takis, on the sidelines of this information event.

The two countries are linked by a common maritime temperament, and both rely on shipping in terms of fleet, flag and seafarers’ employment, as mentioned among others in the Network research presented by Thanos Pallis, Professor of Port Management and Of Shipping, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and president of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME).

163 shipowners maintain Panama-flagged ships with a carrying capacity of 3 million tonnes

In the field of shipping, the two countries are in the top ten of the world among the major shipping flags. The flag of Panama is the largest flag in the world, with the participation of 163 Greeks.

These Greek shipowners own one or more Panama-flagged ships. At the same time, the Greek-owned fleet under the same flag exceeds 3 million tons of carrying capacity. In particular, 15% of Greek shipowners have even one ship under the Panamanian flag.

The same research shows the significant presence of Greek-owned ships in the ports of Panama, whether it is the canal or key ports maintained by the country in the Atlantic and Pacific, which facilitate the movement of cargo to North America and Latin America and the Caribbean.

As Mr. Pallis stated, “these ports maintain a special dynamic in terms of direct investments in the country and abroad, which create significant prospects for the further development of trade.” He added that 25% of ships approaching Panama ports are Greek-owned.

Greek shipping controls over 21% of world tonnage

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Giannis Plakiotakis, stated for his part that Greek shipping controls over 21% of the world tonnage and 59% of the European fleet.

He spoke to the public of Greece and Panama, saying that the Panama Canal connects two oceans, while Greece connects two continents both on land and at sea. He stressed that many Greek shipowners trust the Panama registry, where about 10% have registered their ships in that registry.

Recently, Greek shipowners exceeded the barrier of 5,000 seagoing ships, according to the minister. Referring to the importance of the Greek-owned fleet, Mr. Plakiotakis said that:

“Greek shipowners can play a strategic role in diversifying energy sources, as they control over 20% of the capacity of LNG Carriers in the world and over 30% of tankers in the world.

This fact gives us the opportunity and the obligation to make a rebranding to the Greek shipping for how important it is in the world tourism trade, in the world shipping, in ensuring safe navigation.

“We want Panama by our side in international forums as well as in the demands and challenges that shipping will be called upon to face in the immediate future.”

In the framework law – framework for maritime education and private maritime education

One of the biggest challenges that international shipping will face, according to the minister, is the shortage of officers that will exceed 90,000 people by 2026, citing figures from the International Chamber of Shipping.

Mr. Plakiotakis noted, however, that the ministry, in cooperation with both institutional representatives of the market and the academic community, has prepared a framework of provisions aimed at evolving into a law – a framework for maritime education with a parallel opening to private maritime education.

Anna Diamantopoulou: Greece is in the cradle of the Mediterranean and Panama connects the Atlantic with the Pacific

Anna Diamantopoulou, head of the Network, referred to the importance of cooperation in the case of Greece and Panama and beyond, something that the organization implemented from the first moment of its establishment.

“Our aim is to make the relationship between the two countries more substantial, something that will be transformed with the creation of the Greek embassy. Scholars of the time say that the Mediterranean is the past and the cradle from which everything begins. The Atlantic is the present, where technology and innovation are created and the Pacific is the future.

Panama connects the Pacific with the Atlantic and Greece is a country in the cradle. “The cooperation with Panama is very essential, it is exciting for our time”, said Mrs. Diamantopoulou.

Source: Capital

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