Melina Travlou, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Posidonia shipping fair, noting that the Greek fleet now numbers 931 vessels.
“Greek shipping is evolving, renewing itself, and is a pioneer in environmental issues. We firmly believe in the industry we serve and are as strong as we have always been,” the GSA president emphasized. She also noted that Greek shipping ranks first globally in investments in technologically advanced vessels. “We are the world leaders in modern merchant ships, ” she emphasized.
The “shadow” fleet
Referring to the issue of the so-called “shadow fleet,” the president of the UGS clarified that this is not a problem specific to shipping but rather “a broader threat arising from distortions in the international regulatory framework.”
As she noted, singling out Greek shipping is unfair, as the ships that end up in such networks are not exclusively of Greek interest. She further emphasized that shipowners have no ability to control a ship’s route following successive resales.
She attributed the growth of this phenomenon to piecemeal sanctions and the absence of global rules, noting that unilateral or bilateral interventions create distortions and undermine healthy competition.
The IMO’s decarbonization goals
M. Traoulou was particularly critical of the decarbonization framework being discussed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), arguing that the goals for net-zero emissions by 2050 are practically unachievable.
As she argued, shipping accounts for just 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while she expressed her opposition to proposals that could turn the IMO into a revenue-raising mechanism without a clear plan for how those funds would be allocated.
The EEE president welcomed Greece’s stance, as it abstained from the critical vote at the IMO last October. She also noted that the new proposals submitted by Liberia and Japan are moving in a more realistic direction, although they still contain points that need improvement as they are unrealistic.
“Greece abstained from the vote. In my opinion, it voted in the most appropriate and neutral manner to protect the country from the threat of legal action. Greece shifted the course of this Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC83) because it is globally recognized as the world’s leading maritime power, so Greece’s position influenced others as well,” he noted.
“If a middle ground is found, it will benefit not only shipping but also the global economy,” he emphasized.
Free navigation
Regarding discussions on restrictions or charges for the passage of ships through critical sea lanes (in this case, the Strait of Hormuz), the president of the UGS emphasized that the key issue for international shipping remains ensuring freedom of navigation.
As she noted, in recent years the shipping industry has faced a phenomenon of ships being targeted and weaponized in the context of geopolitical tensions, a fact that creates additional risks for global trade and maritime transport. She recalled that the Law of the Sea enshrines freedom of navigation, emphasizing that the protection of shipping and the unimpeded movement of ships are a top priority for the industry.
“Freedom of navigation and the protection of shipping are of the utmost importance. We should not be facing such discussions, nor should shipping be placed in this position,” she noted.
Attracting young people to the profession
When asked about attracting young people to the maritime profession, M. Traoulou said: “We’re not doing well; current circumstances do not encourage young people to view the profession positively. We have wars, ships that are being targeted and are stranded in a region currently at war. The current situation has not helped us, ” she emphasized.
In the same context, he underscored the need to modernize the Greek shipping fleet and upgrade maritime education through coordinated cooperation between the government, the shipping community, and educational institutions.
As he noted, children’s exposure to the sea should begin at a young age, while he emphasized that salaries remain highly competitive, with a captain or chief engineer earning between 12,000 and 14,000 euros per month.