ANALYSIS • GREECE
nevertheless, continues to be 2.9 years below the world average age standing at 10.3 years. It is 8.7 years in terms of gt and 8.6 years in dwt terms.
Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) president Theodore Veniamis, is adamant the
country is not taking advantage of its shipping industry.
Theodore Veniamis
He insists the government and workers union do not utilise the largest shipping fleet in the world to reduce unemployment in Greece, which sailing into the spring was running at around 23% overall and at a crippling 46% for young people.
In one of the few instances where they see eye-to-eye, the UGS and Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) are actively promoting the opportunities of a career at sea.
and shortsea sectors, which has hurt the economies of the islands and ports, especially.
Meanwhile, the Piraeus cluster is still on standby as the EU continues to look into the tax issue. Veniamis hopes that ‘soon we will have a final decision by the Competition Commissioner [Margrethe Vestager], which will take into account, as a priority, the need for legal certainty and the maintaining of the competitiveness of Greek shipping, which are basic parameters of EU policy for the maritime sector.’
Veniamis also says Greek shipping must focus on issues of importance for the oceangoing fleet: the introduction of an Emissions Trading System by the EU (EU ETS), the Ballast Water Management agreement, the Hong
The average age of the Greek- controlled fleet in ship terms over the past year has increased slightly but continues to be 2.9 years below the world average
Indeed, the number of young Greeks enrolling to go to sea nudged up to 14,313 in 2016 versus 13,927 the year before, according to Elstat – the first increase since 2011. However, the tally includes a number of seafarers who had retired ashore but are now returning to sea because of the economic crisis.
Though the UGS and the PNO are both promoting a career in shipping, the owners and seafarers have been at odds over working conditions and have failed to sign a new collective agreement for over 12 months. Indeed, the UGS wants to do away with a Greek collective agreement in favour of international labour agreements. The squabble has led to a series of strikes, particularly by seafarers working in the domestic
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seatrade-maritime.com Seatrade Maritime Review • Quarterly Issue 2 • June 2017 25
Kong agreement on recycling and new rules for advancement of short sea shipping in Europe.
One of the country’s success stories
Piraeus Container Terminal, now run by Cosco
is the growing importance of Piraeus port since management passed to Cosco Shipping last year. However, the Chinese management has reportedly requested the intervention of the Shipping and Island Policy minister, Panagiotis Kouroumblis, to ease Greek government-imposed hurdles stalling implementation of a massive investment plan for the port.
The Piraeus Port Authority’s md, Capt. Fu Chengqui has requested the support of the Ministry with Kouroumblis promising ‘to review in a positive way all issues being raised by the PPA.’
With container handling increasing to near 4m teu Fu presented Cosco's ambitious investment plan to the government, saying the company wants to transform Piraeus into the ‘most modern port in Europe.’
At the same time there is a drive to upgrade ports around the country, especially those of interest to the tourist and above all cruise sector. The country has placed great hope in tourism and cruising as a way out of its economic turmoil.
Greek controlled fleet 1988-2017
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