The press conference of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) took place on the last day of the Posidonia 2022 exhibition, after five successful days of the event, which achieved an all-time attendance record with more than 27,000 visitors.
“Europe needs to understand the strategic importance of Greek shipping as the owner of 59% of the EU fleet, especially in times when shipping can play a crucial role in the continent’s scramble for energy independence,” pointed out the president of UGS, Melina Travlos.
Regarding the priorities of the union, she said, “We will continue to defend the position and interests of Greek shipping. We want people to understand the importance of shipping in our everyday lives because the industry is not just a business, but a strategic partner for every country and every government.”
The energy transition is also an important issue for the Union of Greek Shipowners, according to Melina Travlos, who noted, “What Europe does with decarbonisation regulations such as Fit for 55 and Emissions Trading System (ETS), must be guided by the need to preserve and promote the competitiveness of European shipping as a whole. Certain decisions may be detrimental to our industry and could risk losing our competitive edge against competition from Asia and other regions.”
Travlos added, “We want a global solution and not one that is only impacting specific regions. We want realistic solutions that safeguard navigation safety.”
UGS president, who highlighted the need for a global solution instead of regional measures, concluded, “Traditionally Greek shipping is the first to invest in new technologies and new vessels, therefore we will also be the first to adopt any new solutions once they are made available to us. Any new fuel or technology come at a cost which is ultimately passed on to the end consumer. This needs to be made widely known.”
Theodore Vokos, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions, stated, “This has been by far the most successful Posidonia in the history of the event. The innovation presented on the exhibition floor has indeed been ground-breaking, the knowledge imparting during the various conferences and seminars was inspirational and the volume and quality of our visitors surpassed everyone’s expectations. It’s thrilling to be back with such a positive impact.”
