The four proposals of K. Mitsotakis for shipping

Green shipping and ferry, environmental innovation center in Piraeus and compliance with the rule “the polluter pays” with the operator responsible and not the owner of the ship are some of the basic proposals and positions of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Greek Prime Minister pointed out that the Greek navy is already mobilizing for the gradual decarbonization of shipping, but the effort should be accelerated.

The four sentences

“In a letter to Commission President Von der Leyen herself, I called for shipping to become a European priority. With four proposals: First, to intensify research and development of environmentally friendly technologies and alternative fuels. Safe for ships, and sustainable for the economy.

Secondly, to review European legislation in order to ensure a level playing field in Transport. Thirdly, the distribution of revenue from the European emissions trading scheme, especially in maritime trade, is fairly distributed among the Member States. And fourth, to apply the mechanism of the “polluter pays” principle with the operator responsible and not the ship owner. A position fully shared by the European Parliament. This is a historic challenge that requires a common front: combining shipping actions for innovation with IMO research. Energy and fuel producers and engine manufacturers to apply innovative methods. And the political institutions to facilitate the coordination of these forces. Believe me, to speak in your language again, we can move “forward at full speed” for green shipping. “And we must be protagonists and not tails,” he said

“Center Of Excellence” for Carbon Neutral Maritime Technologies

At the same time, Kyriakos Mitsotakis proposed the establishment of a center of excellence for shipping research. “I am ready to propose to the international shipping community that Piraeus host a ‘Center Of Excellence’ for Carbon Neutral Maritime Technologies. My country is well aware of how much the industry has helped maintain the global supply chain during the pandemic. It also recognizes the role “It is now undertaking in the face of energy turmoil. It is therefore ready to become a carrier of its new era.”

In turn, the President of the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association, Melina Travlou, addressing the Prime Minister, said that Greek shipping is a vital sector for the national economy and a strong social partner of the State. “Shipping is a national asset. It is particularly important that the State understands this. It understands the quantitative and qualitative superiority of our shipping and supports us in practice both nationally and internationally. Our shipping is our history, it is our our culture and we must protect our identity as a naval nation, we must inspire young people to participate in it, we must guide it, with vision, respect and national pride in safe waters. your immediacy, in support of Greek shipping “.

And the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, noted that the EU is present to support the efforts made for carbonization. From 2014 to 2020, through the “Connecting Europe” mechanism, we supported 185 maritime projects with a total of 1.64 billion euros. Among them, 14 Greek projects. Greece also benefited from the approximately 30 million euros that In the framework of the European Strategic Investment Fund for the construction of a new liquefied natural gas supply vessel in the port of Piraeus. “Ellen”, which is powered by the largest battery in the world. This project was carried out with Greek participation ”

The European Commissioner stressed that in recent months I see increasing interest in floating storage and regasification plants in Greece. “I would like to congratulate you on the start of construction last month of a new terminal in the port of Alexandroupolis. I also hope that work on the plant designed for Corinth can begin soon.”