Union of Greek Shipowners

Press releases

The UGS calls for immediate and effective intervention by the international community to prevent and respond to attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Guinea

Piraeus, 8.11.2019

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) is following with great worry and concern the serious situation created following the recent incidents of armed attacks and abductions against merchant ships in the Gulf of Guinea. The situation has taken an alarming turn for the safety of ships and their crews, and has serious implications for international shipping and for the smooth conduct of international maritime trade in the region.

The Union of Greek Shipowners backs Greek proposal to limit main engine power of ships as an immediately effective measure to reduce GHG emissions from ships

Piraeus, 16.10.2019

In the context of materialising the United Nations International Maritime Organization’s (UN IMO) Initial Strategy for the decarbonisation of the shipping industry, Greece, as the leading traditional maritime country, has come forward with a concrete proposal for a short-term, prescriptive measure to improve the operational energy efficiency of existing ships, to be considered at the forthcoming meeting of the UN IMO’s intersessional technical group in November (11-15.11.2019).

Greek Shipowners applaud the adoption by the UN IMO MSC 101 of a specific action plan to deal with the critical safety issues and liability implications associated with the 0.5% sulphur marine fuels

Piraeus, 18.06.2019

The Union of the Greek Shipowners (UGS) warmly welcomes the decision of the Maritime Safety Committee (London, 5-14 June 2019) of the United Nations International Maritime Organization (UN IMO) to adopt an action plan for mandatory measures to enhance the safety of ships relating to the use of fuel oil, as well as Resolution MSC.465(101) recommending as a matter of urgency governments to, inter alia, take action against oil fuel suppliers in confirmed cases of deliveries of fuel oil that does not comply with the minimum flashpoint as required by the SOLAS Convention. States around the world are urged to make full use of this Resolution as an important tool in order to take appropriate measures imminently to safeguard the safety of ships.

Theodore E. Veniamis

President of the UGS

“At a national level, Greek-owned shipping has, by its very nature, continued to be recognised as a national asset, above political parties. Maintaining its close ties with the country remains a common goal of both the State and shipowners. The prerequisite is that it must continue to be internationally competitive and therefore sustainable. In addition, the State can capitalise on the dynamics of deep-sea shipping and the maritime cluster as well as the economic and political circumstances in Europe to create a wider, business-friendly platform for development that will significantly enhance Greece’s position as an international maritime hub with strong prospects for boosting the added value for the economy.

Greek shipping’s contribution to Greece is multifaceted, providing diverse opportunities which the State should utilise, capitalising on the country’s important geopolitical position and its leading modern shipping capability, which is an integral element of its national identity and a defining characteristic of its people.”