IMO sole body to shape shipping environmental policy says UGS

Posidonia 2008 closes on a high note with new visitor number record

6/6/2008

Greek shipowners have reinstated their intention to follow the directives of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on issues pertaining to environmental regulations and have emphasized their decision to work hard so that any new policy will be fully embraced by the global maritime community.

The IMO should be the sole body authorized to dictate environmental policies for the shipping industry which will be adhered by Greek shipowners, according to the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), who represent 17 per cent of the global marine sector.

Speaking at a press conference during the final day of Posidonia 2008, the world’s biggest shipping trade event held in Athens every two years, UGS President Nicos Efthymiou said that Greek shipowners would wholeheartedly support any IMO initiative designed to curb the industry’s CO2 footprint.

“THE CO2 footprint of shipping is by far smaller than any other sector in the transportation industry, yet we are determined to contribute anything we can in order to identify solutions capable to further help the environment for the future generations. We want solutions which will reduce our emissions, but solutions which will be universally accepted and implemented. We don’t want solutions that will force only certain countries or regions to adopt them because that would create unfair competition. We believe that only the IMO can introduce solutions that will be immediately applicable and won’t interfere with international trade norms,” said Efthymiou.

Efthymiou also said that the UGS is about to launch an educational campaign aimed at attracting young Greeks to seek employment opportunities in shipping. “There are not enough Greek officers to man the rapidly expanding Greek-owned fleet and this campaign is designed to highlight the benefits of our industry and way of life as a means to make it more appealing to the new generation. In the last 18 months, 127 vessels have joined our fleet but the number would have been higher, if we had a capable number of Greek officers to man them. Without Greek officers, we will lose our know-how, expertise and eventually our traditional love for the sea. Our friends from the Far East would stand to benefit from this development because their shipping industry is blossoming through continuous investments in education and training,” said Efthymiou.

Posidonia 2008 closes today (Friday June 6th), having seen a historic record of 17,000 visitors during the show’s first three days. The number was expected to exceed the 18,000 mark on the final day. According to Themistocles Vokos, Chairman, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. the organiser of the event, Posidonia week has contributed around 55 million Euro to the local economies of Athens and Piraeus with the hospitality, catering and tourism sectors being the main beneficiaries of the windfall.

“We have already started receiving booking requests for the next event,” said Vokos who added that the Greek authorities have yet to work out a solution or a plan to develop an appropriate exhibition centre for the massive event, the biggest and most international of its kind worldwide. “We want to return to Piraeus but the city needs the necessary infrastructure in order to host such a premier exhibition. We hope that by the end of this year we will know where the 22nd edition of Posidonia will be held.”

Posidonia 2008 is sponsored by the Ministry of Mercantile Marine, The Aegean and Island Policy, the Municipality of Piraeus, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, the Mediterranean Cargo Vessels Shipowners Union, the Association of Greek Coastal Shipping Companies and the Association of Greek Passenger Shipping Companies.

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