Shipping july august 2014low

JULY-AUGUST 2014

SHIPPING

58th Year

Period B No 508

CONTENTS

KΩΔIKOΣ 1612

INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY REVIEW

Between us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

Spotlighting the industry news for nearly six decades!

View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

JULY-AUGUST 2014

Posidonia 2014/The Aftermath . . . . . . . .6

NAFTILIA Period A No 1-149 SHIPPING Period B No 508 Vol. 354 Publisher Evlabia Babili

Shipfinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Consultants of the edition Letta Makri Dimitris Kapranos

Editor in Chief Letta Makri

Advertising Manager L.D.M.

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BETWEEN US

Posidonia 2014 The other face of Greece Posidonia 2014 has passed into memory.

It was, however, one of the country’s few opportunities to show a different face.

In a period when the mention of the word “Greece” brings to mind memoranda, prerequisites, instalments, cuts, soup kitchens and protests, Posidonia presented a powerful, effective and dynamic Greece, leading the way.

All this, of course, is in relation to the merchant marine sector, in which our country has long held a dominant position and for which it is taking care to methodically plan for tomorrow.

The presence of a multitude of exhibitors and visitors, the quality of the companies that took part in the exhibition and the major presences on the panels of “Posidonian” conferences, was reflected in the Greek and international press and sent a message that says, “something is afoot here”.

The Posidonia exhibition, which has flown the Greek flag high since the early ’70s, is the ultimate example of what can be achieved by private initiative, even in a country like Greece, which until not long ago was distinguished by its love of the “soviet” style.

Without state support, Posidonia is currently one of the few institutions still holding strong in Greek society.

The entire Thessaloniki International Trade Fair has deteriorated due to the stifling embrace of the state which has transformed it into an enumeration of the various ministries and state-owned enterprises.

Other exhibitions, which sought to establish themselves but relied on “government grants”, failed and went bankrupt.

Posidonia, however, takes place within the most

competitive and healthiest sector of the Greek – and global – economy, shipping.

Posidonia is engaged in an industry in which Greeks create and profit, go bankrupt and start up again, struggle and borrow, raise funds in the international financial system and keep alive the top-ranked merchant fleet by tonnage in the world!

The Greek state, therefore, should protect, enhance and facilitate this sector. We do not refer, of course, to financial aid, as was the case with the “Greek Industry”, which siphoned off hundreds of billions and left behind empty buildings.

“Aid” for the Greek merchant marine, should be entitled, “Do Not Disturb”! The best thing that the Greek state can do for shipping is to refrain from obstructing its operations.

Of course, for their part, ship owners should observe their responsibilities also. For example, Greek ships should employ as many Greek officers as possible.

In a time of economic crisis, the country cannot do without the “reserve” of shipping, which has been present in all the critical periods, with the recruitment of thousands of young Greeks on Greek ships.

The Greek state should recognize the contribution of the merchant marine but the merchant marine should also support the country in the tough times.

Posidonia was a first-rate opportunity for the state and the shipping sector to come close. The appearance of the prime minister is a good sign. We are awaiting developments and preparing for Posidonia 2016.

Wishing you a good summer...

LETTA DIMOPOULOU - MAKRI

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 3

VIEW

Mee ng in September...

by Dimitris Kapranos

When I met up with the minister for shipping, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, at the Posidonia Exhibition recently, he told me that the matter of the liberalization of maritime education would be resolved

by September.

There were witnesses at this discussion, so let’s wait another three months...

This year, in any case, only 1,192 students – exactly the same as last year – will be admitted into the merchant marine academies.

As Mr Varvitsiotis announced, 694 master and 498 engineer candidates will be admitted in 2014.

However, with a steady dropout rate of about 30 percent, only about 834 of these are expected to go to sea, in a period when the European shipping sector is desperate for European officers, whereas Greek companies, despite everything that the ship owners say to the contrary, prefer foreign, “low-paid and low-key”, personnel.

And yet, our country was involved in the drafting of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), which it then adopted, together with another 120 member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

STCW has been part of our national legal framework since 1978, however, it is not applied as the state and ship owners interpret it as they see fit and keep maritime education in Greece under an outrageously timeconsuming, wasteful and inefficient system.

So it is not only decisions of the Council of State that

4 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

are not applied in this country...

A country that has 16,600 km of coastline and 7,929 islands, owns 18.5 percent of world ship tonnage and is ranked second (first in tonnage) in shipping in the European Union, and is still leading Greek shipping power towards extinction, since fewer Greeks set course for the sea every year, while the foreigners who are signed onto Greek ships are slowly replacing them.

So at the same time that the EU has declared European merchant navy officers an “endangered species”, and at a time when large, reputable and trustworthy shipping companies trust Greek officers more (unfortunately) than Greek ship owners do, the Greek state still supports a “private club” status in maritime education, prohibiting the operation of private maritime colleges although such colleges operate around the world!

Thus, we have the phenomenon of private Greek maritime colleges granting diplomas with seals from Malta, Cyprus and other shipping countries but prohibited from conferring Greek degrees! At the same time, Greeks who were not admitted to the (so-called) “academies” are studying in private maritime colleges in Cyprus, England, Sweden and Romania.

Of course, coastguard officials, who consider maritime education to be their own territory, have also played a role in the creation of this sorry state, advising respective ministers in the negative whenever any of the ministry’s political heads appears favourable towards the liberalization of the education system in the shipping sector.

Let us bear in mind that the prime minister attended Posidonia this year and visited all the stands, that the new finance minister described shipping as a “pillar of the economy” and that, based on the current Greek legislation, the STCW Convention, which will release maritime education from its peculiar hostage, is state law!

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

POSIDONIA 2014 OPENING

Samaras: “We are relaunching our country star ng from the sea” Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras linked the shipping industry to a message of hope for his beleaguered country as he opened the 2014 Posidonia Exhibition.

Greece, he said, was “inextricably associated with the sea, since the years of Homer, all the way to the present times”.

The head of the Greek government does not always deign to attend the opening of the country’s world-leading biennial maritime industry fair. But this year, Mr Samaras’ presence in tandem with that of shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis was clearly designed to send a message of appreciation to an industry that the government hopes will be a bulwark of the Greek economic revival.

“With the support of our Greek shipowners, who are succeeding across the oceans and whom we are proud of, together

with the great Greek seafaring tradition, we are relaunching our country starting from the sea,” said Mr Samaras.

“For over three millennia, the Greeks experienced moments of glory and moment of distress; but they always relied on the sea to gain hope, to gain power, to overcome difficulties, to overcome subjugation, to built up their own strength, to establish their own prosperity and start all over again.”

According to Mr Samaras, shipping was one of two “champion” sectors of the economy that were achieving new records and helping drag Greece out of its economic crisis, the other being tourism which is poised to post a new record of 20m visitors this year.

The prime minister hailed the current Posidonia as being the largest yet and underlining the current strength of the Greekcontrolled fleet that is “gaining power by the day”.

Varvitsiotis: “Don’t kill competition” Shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has called for further reform of European Union maritime policy to support the competitiveness of European shipping companies.

Speaking on the opening day of the Posidonia exhibition held in Athens, Mr Varvitsiotis decried inconsistent EU maritime policies and the intervention of the European Commission, but proclaimed that the Greek presidency which ends next month has done much to reform the situation.

6 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

“We have reaffirmed our new goals for European shipping policy through to 2020 and we must keep the competitiveness of European shipping, not introduce taxes that will harm this sector,” he said addressing the Capital Link Posidonia conference.

“When you introduce policies that harm competition the ships won’t leave Greece and go to Germany or the UK— they will go to Asia, for good.

"We need to keep shipping and the growth it provides our economy”.

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Tsakos: “Don’t kill the market” Keep your pens in your pockets and don’t kill the market” was the stark warning delivered to fellow shipowners by Tsakos Energy Navigation president and chief executive Nikolas Tsakos as oversupply of tonnage again topped the debate at Posidonia in Athens on Monday.

Sitting on a panel at a Capital Link conference with fellow Greek shipowners George Economou from DryShips, Evangelos Marinakis from Capital Product Partners, Ted Petrone from Navios and George Prokopiou from Dynagas LNG, Mr Tsakos tapped into the growing concern among owners that their collective concern about supply is still being contradicted by individual actions.

Mr Prokopiou joined the chorus of concern that shipowners may be tempted to do deals that Mr Tsakos suggested would be tantamount to “shooting ourselves in the foot”.

“All of us know when the market is high or low — cyclicality is an intrinsic part of this business and of course timing is important... You have to invest when it’s really low,” Mr Prokopiou said.

“But we have to be careful.”

Although the general consensus among all major owners attending Posidonia this year seems to suggest that the influx of private equity has now abated, at least for the mainstream shipping sectors, that has not prevented the funds becoming the scapegoat for many concerns about the perceived supply-side problems.

“This could have been a very healthy market for us to enjoy, but I think that private equity has presented an additional danger — people with no knowledge of the industry just making a bet for a couple of years and they can get out of it whenever they decide, inflicting huge pain on the industry in the process,” said Mr Tsakos.

Despite those concerns topping public debate, conversation on the sidelines of Posidonia events is now shifting away from the private equity issue to diversification and financial risk management.

Mr Economou has been seen talking up the benefits for Greek owners diversifying into offshore investments, where he argues

that high barriers to entry, coupled with the Greeks’ operational expertise, will provide much better margins than the mature tanker sectors traditionally favoured by Greek owners.

Mr Petrone meanwhile suggested that owners needed to become more agile in their approach to financing generally.

“As a shipowner you can’t manage the market — you do that and you’re going to jail,” he quipped.

“But we can manage risk and we can manage cost. When you manage risk you pick your sectors, when you pick your sectors you pick your asset classes in the sectors to diversify your risk and you need to do the same with finance.

“These markets open and close quickly. You need to arbitrage between sectors but you also need to arbitrage between the financial structures that will open and close very quickly”.

On the issue of cost control all Greek owners and, indeed, the Greek shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, who attended the Capital Link event, have been keen to trumpet their prowess when it comes to operational management of their fleets, arguing that Greek shipping remains the world leader when it comes to efficiency.

As Mr Tsakos pointed out, controlling costs is not simply a question of cutting all the fat and “risking cutting flesh in the process” - the key benchmark to be concerned about is performance.

“It is not all about running costs,” said Mr Marinakis. “Days off hire, repair time and costs — that is essential and that is how we should analyse our figures. You cannot cut running expenses at the cost of performance.”

But if performance is the key, having the economies of scale to back up that approach is the differentiator, argued Mr Petrone from Navios, which now controls well over 100 vessels.

“It’s the suppliers I feel sorry for,” he said, admitting that his company has a firm policy of squeezing every contract.

“It’s very important not to get fat – it’s our mandate to keep costs low”.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 7

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Posidonia 2014: New records and successes

“Posidonia 2016 will be held at Metropolitan Expo”. It was with this simple announcement that the organisers of the largest shipping exhibition informed us that – at least until 2018 – we will not be seeing a Posidonia at Piraeus!

This is not to say that we hoped for anything different, but merely that it demonstrates the unreliability of politicians, who from 2004 onwards, would every now and then toss out a reference to the “new exhibition centre” in “Palataki”.

Unfortunately, they have not even restored the “Pagoda” yet!

Otherwise, this year’s Posidonia” was in all respects the best, until ... the next one! And because we know the process from the inside, we tell you that it is no easy job manoeuvring so many, and such demanding, exhibitors.

Between us, dear readers, we no longer have any other major exhibition in the country. That is why it would be good to take care of Posidonia and to proceed, by all means, with the construction of an exhibition centre in Piraeus. Piraeus is also Posidonia; conceived by Theodore Vokos, the exhibition was nurtured by the city of Piraeus, and it evolved into the largest maritime exhibition in Europe.

We are eagerly awaiting the new municipal administration of Piraeus, which has made many promises related to the sea. According to both the new mayor, Yannis Moralis, and Vangelis Marinakis, one of its primary concerns is the return of Posidonia to Piraeus.

At Posidonia 2014 we noted that: •Greece remains the centre of the shipping world.

•In this time of crisis, Posidonia contributes something to Greece that nothing else can.

8 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

•Posidonia expresses the capacity of private initiative to take the state “by the hand”, without reaching out to ask for something in return.

•The global shipping community recognizes Greece as a leading player in the field of marine transport.

•The merchant marine is the wellspring of dozens of other operational businesses that provide employment.

•Thousands of Greek citizens are engaged in shipping and related businesses.

•Billions of euro come and go annually, in the shipping sector. The majority remain in Greece.

•As Europe’s leading maritime power (in terms of tonnage), Greece has leverage in EU circles.

•The Greek flag is one of the most trusted in global shipping.

The Greek state has an obligation to assist the shipping industry and not create problems for its operations.

The success of Posidonia 2014 demonstrates that Greece remains competitive in the most “open” business arena.

Without government subsidies, without a helping hand from any government arm, commercial shipping plays a major role and holds sway worldwide. Maybe the state owes something to shipping. Maybe it owes something to Piraeus. Maybe this poor exhibition centre should have been created years ago.

We await the announcement of a “large, new, ultramodern, model exhibition centre” at Piraeus. It will bring revenue to the city, it will keep shipping – which has started to leave – in Piraeus. There are ways it can be done and the state is aware of them. It should, at last, do its duty.

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Record par cipa on at Posidonia Cup 2014 A record 58 crews participated at the 7th Posidonia Cup under challenging weather conditions. The Posidonia Cup Yacht Race has been a permanent feature of the Posidonia week since 2002 and is the most anticipated event for the excitement it offers and the networking opportunities it creates.

It is one of Greece’s biggest sailing events bringing shipping executives, professional sailors and experienced seafarers together, both for the race itself and the award ceremony which this year took place at Limni Vouliagmenis.

Crews competed across four categories: Performance, Standard, I.R.C. and Classic yachts.

PERFORMANCE 1.ACES – STATUS MARITIME 2.BULLET – SKULD 3.OPTIMUM 3 – ASPIDA MARITIME. STANDARD 1.DAPHNE’S SMILE – SAMOS STEAMSHIP CO 2.ALTER EGO – ABS 3.QUIKSILVER – GAC SHIPPING S.A. IRC 1.GREY GOOSE OF RORC – DELOITTE 2.ACOOL TURABI – AEGEAN SHIPPING/ LLOYDS R. MARINE 3.ABRAXAS – THENAMARIS LNG INC. CLASSIC 1.FLAMINGO – ANTONIS NIKOLARAS 2.AELLO MCPY 3.LARNE – THE BALTIC EXCHANGE SAILING ASS

ABS crew 2nd place Standard Category

GAC crew 3rd place Standard Category

LLOYDS R. MARINE 2nd place IRC category

LARNE – THE BALTIC EXCHANGE SAILING ASS 3rd place Classic Boats

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Bal c Exchange wins 4th Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament

Posidonia 2014 Shipsoccer Tournament kicked off under a rapturous welcome by a vociferous group of 120 Egyptian supporters of the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport who were routing for their team, one of the

28 companies who fielded competitive sides in the event's fourth edition.

A total of 210 players sweated it out in front of some 500 spectators on the Georgios Karaiskakis turf one day ahead of the opening of Posidonia Exhibition as they vied for the prestigious trophy that has become an indispensable sporting feature in the biennial event's calendar.

John Xylas, CEO of Ariston Navigation Corp. said: “It is our second participation at the tournament which promotes healthy lifestyles, team spirit and fair competition and we will continue to support this Posidonia week fixture.”

Pantelis Pittas from the commercial department of Eurobulk said: “This is our third time here and this event is a great opportunity for companies to socialize, have fun and exercise all at the same time.”

And also to win trophies and medals, that is if you were playing for either of Baltic Exchange or PWC who reached the final with the former prevailing to be crowned Posidonia 2014 Shipsoccer Tournament champions. Diamantis Pateras finished third.

100 players took part in 2nd Posidonia Golf Tournament The 2nd Posidonia Golf Tournament for golfers of the shipping community was successfully completed yesterday with the participation of 96 golfers who teed off under cloudy skies at the greens of the Athens Golf Course, in the waterfront Athens sub-

urb of Glyfada. The 18-hole Shotgun format tournament stimulated competition amongst the 24 teams.

Nikolas Martinos of Thenamaris said: "A game of golf provides the perfect circumstances for the creation of meaningful networking opportunities between like-minded professionals and we delighted for the success of the 2014 Posidonia Golf Tournament, which is fast becoming an integral part of the world's most prestigious shipping event."

The event was sponsored by Costamare and Thenamaris, powered by Costa Navarino and is held under the auspices of Posidonia Exhibitions.

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties Bureau Veritas at Ecali Club The BV event was possibly the best attended Posidonia classification society dinner at this venue, but also turned out to be the most crowded event ever, for BV itself!

Lambros Chahalis, Anastasios Angelopoulos, Pallette Palaiologou and their respective teams offered their best to the almost 2,000 guests from the Greek and international shipping community, who enjoyed a wonderful time at the spacious Ecali Club, on the Friday just before Posidonia week.

It was a really unforgettable and well-organized evening with excellent food and drinks. Superb!

Lambros A. Chahalis, George Moundreas and Paillette Palaiologou

Anastasios Angelopoulos, Didier Bouttier, George Sarris, Victor Restis and his wife, Lambros A. Chahalis, Claude Maillot, Bill Chen and Paillette Palaiologou

Adamandios L. Polemis, Paris Dragnis with his wife

Anastasios Angelopoulos, Dimitris Sficas with his wife, daughter and his son Alkis Sficas

Paillette Palaiologou, Anastasios Angelopoulos, Suzanna Laskaridis and Panagiotis Laskaridis

Anastasios Angelopoulos, Evangelia Dalacoura, Lambros A. Chahalis, Paillette Palaiologou and Michalis Dalacouras

Victor Restis with his wife

Petros Pappas, Mariza Psalti, Lambros A. Chahalis and Paillette Palaiologou

Anastasios Angelopoulos, Paris Dragnis with his wife

We support innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions For more information, please contact: Bureau Veritas Greek Central Office 23, Etolikou Str. - 185 45 PIRAEUS Tel: +30 (210) 40 63 000 Fax: +30 (210) 40 63 063 Email: grc_lpr@gr.bureauveritas.com Visit us on: www.bureauveritas.com - www.veristar.com www.bureauveritas.gr

Move Forward with Confidence

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties Lloyd’s Register at the Westin In keeping with tradition, the Lloyd’s Register reception took place on Friday, just prior to the opening of the Exhibition, by the pool at the Westin Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni, with major representatives of the Greek and international shipping community attending this exceptional event.

Everything was very well organized and our hosts, CEO Richard Sadler and head of Hellenic Lloyd’s Apostolos Poulovassilis together with the LR personnel, did their best to make the over 1,000 guests feel special!

Richard Sadler with Capt Panagiotis Tsakos, Annita Patargia

Tom Boardley, Apostolos Poulovassilis, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and Richard Sadler

Richard Sadler, Kika Lazaridou, Apostolos Poulovassilis, Michalis Veniamis and Tom Boardley

(l to r) Capt Panagiotis Tsakos, Tom Boardley, Spyros Karnessis (European Navigation) with his wife and children, Apostolos Poulovassilis, Efthymios Mitropoulos with his wife and Richard Sadler

Evangelos Marinakis with his wife, Richard Sadler and Tom Boardley (l to r) Apostolos Poulovassilis with Marios Stafilopatis (Byzantine) with his wife and daughters

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties ABS at the Grand Resort Lagonissi “The ABS Posidonia reception was successfully held on the 29th of May 2014 at the Grand Resort Lagonissi. The event was attended by a large number of Greek shipowners and shipping personalities as well as many international friends of ABS including shipping companies, shipyards and other members of the worldwide shipping family. This reception was one of the highlights of the Posidonia week.

Christopher Wiernicki (ABS Chairman, President & CEO), Philip Shapiro (“Liberty Maritime Corp.” and ABS Board of Directors Member) and Craig Stevenson (“Diamond S Shipping” and ABS Board of Directors Member)

Christopher Wiernicki and Nikos Pappadakis (Owner, Α.G. Pappadakis & Co.)

Pericles Panagopulos with his wife Katerina Panagopulou (Attica Group)

General view of the inside area of the reception

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties IRI/Marshall Islands Registry Once again the Registry’s Posidonia reception took place at Balux Café, where Theo Xenakoudis and his Greek team created a super evening. The crowds in attendance demonstrated the support of the world’s ship owners and managers who have placed their tonnage under the Marshall Islands banner, a flag managed by IRI, now second only to the Greek flag in the Greek market. Who wasn’t there?! (l to r) Verity Maloney - International Registries Inc. (IRI), John Ramage – IRI, Anthony Cunningham - Moore Stephens LLP, James Leake - Arrow Shipbrokers, Richard Greiner - Moore Stephens LLP, Winton Porter – IRI, Meredith Kirby – IRI, Tony Guida – IRI, Richard Dias – IRI, Bill Gallagher – IRI, Brain Devine Fulbright and Jaworski LLP

(l to r) Vasilis Kamitsis, Thodoris Lalas, Theofilos Xenakoudis - International Registries, Inc (IRI), Zenon Kleopas - StarBulk S.A.

(l to r) Alex Voultsos, Efi Theodorou, Kostas Stamoulis - Evripos Shipmanagement Corp., Theofilos Xenakoudis, Vasilis Kamitsis, Thanos Theocharis - International Registries Inc. (IRI)

DNV GL at Ecali Club Over 1,500 guests attended the DNV GL’s buffet dinner at the spacious Ecali Club on the evening of the Posidonia 2014 opening day. CEO of the DNV GL Group, Henrik O. Madsen, and the Group’s management team hosted one of the most sophisticated Posidonia receptions and the guests enjoyed a relaxing time in a lovely atmosphere.

It should be noted that the newly formed DNV GL Group recently celebrated their first year of operation, while Det Norske Veritas celebrated the 150th anniversary of its foundation.

Norway and Germany ambassadors with Nikolas Boussounis and Henrik O. Madsen

Henrik O. Madsen, Panos Laskaridis and Ioannis Kourmatzis

George Gabriel and Athanasios Reisopoulos

Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Dr. John Coustas and Henrik O. Madsen

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Together with our partners, we drive the industry forward by developing best practices and standards.

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POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties AEGEAN party hosts thousands from the world of merchant shipping All the luminaries from the world of merchant shipping, who comprise the “magic power” that makes Greece the sector’s star player, were in attendance at the Aegean party.

If one wanted to investigate and track down the elements that make Greece and the Greeks the leading force in the world of merchant shipping, there was no better opportunity than the party held by Aegean, on the occasion of the Posidonia 2014 international maritime exhibition on 5 June, at the seaside Balux centre.

Dimitris Melissanidis with his son Present at the party of DimGeorge Melissanidis itris Melissanidis, were ship owners, bankers and financial figures from Greece and abroad, ambassadors and diplomats from foreign countries, political fig-

Dimitris Melissanidis Tzeni Melissanidi with George with Tzeni Melissanidi Melissanidis

George Melissanidis, Sofia Tsipa and Markos Deimezis

ures, press and media people, performers, athletes, and over 5,000 executives from various companies belonging to Greece’s weightiest industry – shipping.

The presence of such major players at the party, is indicative of the successful and dynamic progress Aegean has made in all its areas of activity, in Greece and at dozens of foreign ports.

The welcoming and beautifully appointed spaces at Balux, which were decorated with Aegean’s colours for the event, hosted the guests of the Melissanidis family, who partied to the sounds of live music from a 20-member orchestra, Stavros Romanos’s LA Big Band, while the appearances of Pantelis Pantelidis and Antonis Remos, brought Greek flavour to the stage.

Amongst those invited were Minister of Marine Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, deputy parliamentary spokesmen Tassos Nerantzis and Yiannis Tragakis, former Minister of Culture Kostas Tzavaras, Aris Spiliotopoulos, Vice-Admiral Athanasios Athanasopoulos (commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard), General Secretary of Ports and Port Policy Athanasios Christopoulos, Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado of Panama, mayor of Cephalonia Alexandros Parissis, the newly elected mayors of Glyfada, Giorgos Papanikolaou, and Marathon, Ilias Psinakis, and many figures from the press and media, the world of football and sport, and also actors, models, performers and others in the public spotlight...

Edward Karrer, Aris Spiliotopoulos, Anastasia Leonardou and George Melissanidis

Eleonora Meleti, George Melissanidis, Dimitris Meletis

Hose Garza, Dimitris Melissanidis, Ntegiannis Christos, Niki Lalioti and Tzeni Melissanidi

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties Michalis Bodouroglou hosts a midday reception On 4 June, Paragon Shipping Inc., Box Shipping and Allseas Marine SA, of wellknown ship owner Michalis Bodouroglou, hosted a prestigious reception at their premises in Voula.

The event was honoured by the presence of over 450 guests including bankers from major international banks, high-level executives from shipbrokers and charter firms, Michele Francioni (CEO RINA SERVICES), Stefano Bertilone and journalists from Greek and interna- (RINA General Manager - Europe), M. Bodouroglou, tional media.

Spiros Zolotas (RINA) and Ugo Salerno (CEO RINA GROUP)

M. Bodouroglou with Nils Aden (Schiffahrt ER)

Norimasa Kunihiro (Manager CMP Hellas), M. Bodouroglou, Makis Kalomamas (Chugoku Marine Paints Hellas), Junji Tomochika (Director CMP Japan), Masataka Uetake (President George Kavounis, S. Zolotas (RINA) and Kostas Sismanidis and CEO CMP Japan), Masayuji Yamashita (General Manager CMP Japan)

George Skrimizeas, M. Bodouroglou and Konstantinos Economou (Marine Tours)

George Cambanis Victor Heale (CLARKSONS), G. Skrimizeas, (Deloitte) with Tony Smith and Tim Petersen (LLOYD) Michael Bodouroglou

M. Bodouroglou with Dimitris Houliarakis (ABS)

C. Girardet (MSC) with M. Bodouroglou

M. Bodouroglou, Cliff Teller (Maxim Group), Mary Vogiatzidou of RSA, M. Bodouroglou Robert Perri and Fotis Giannakoulis (Morgan and Derry Provatos of H.W.Wood Stanley)

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties Navios Maritime Midday Reception Distinguished guests of the Greek and international shipping community were hosted by Navios Maritime at its traditional midday reception on the roof garden of their premises on Akti Miaouli, just a few hours before the official Posidonia Opening.

Everyone enjoyed the warm hospitality they have come to expect from the company: excellent food and drinks highlighted by an exceptional view of Piraeus Port. What could be better? Well, what about the fantastic warmth and friendliness of CEO Angeliki Frangou, who was there to welcome all the guests one by one?

Horacio Lopez, Stratos Desypris, Ted Petrone, Angeliki Frangou, Shunji Sasada, George Achniotis, Claudio Lopez, Leonidas Korres

AIGAION Insurance: Excellence on the up and up An open cocktail reception organized by AIGAION Insurance SA, ZEBA Marine and Velos Chartering Shipbrokers on the occasion of this year’s Posidionia, was held on 11 June 2014 at the offices of AIGAION, and was attended by business associates, ship owners, major clients, insurance market executives and journalists.

In a cordial atmosphere, AIGAION chairman, Nikolaos Velliadis spoke with attendees and thanked them for their contribution to the company’s insurance activities, with an emphasis on the marine sector. He indicated that AIGAION will continue on its upward course in the coming period in order not only to maintain the lead it has held for years in marine insurance in Greece but also to further increase its share. He also highlighted the importance the company places on the quality and scope of its insurance programs and stressed that the company is focussed on the satisfaction of its clients and the right insurance coverage for their needs.

Among those present was the owner and skipper of the yacht Apidalos Nafs, Pavlos Kourkoulos, who won first place in this year's Andros International Yacht Race, under the colours of AIGAION Insurance SA, and who handed over the cup to the company.

RINA’s cocktail at their stand On the 4th of June, just after RINA’s seminar, the Classification hosted a cocktail at its elegant stand and apart of the seminar participants, many other guests joined, some of them among the most prominent personalities of Greek and International Shipping.

Among others, two agreements were celebrated during the cocktail.

One was the signature of an agreement with a well-known Cypriot based ship management Company, Oesterreichischer Lloyd, Seereederei (Cyprus) Ltd., that characterizes the Khalil Al Balushi and Miclele Francioni Michele Francioni and Sadan Kaptanoglu commitment of RINA to increase its presence in this important area.

The atmosphere remained cheerful until almost the closing The second was a Letter of Intent relevant to the cooperation time of the exhibition and the feeling of RINA’s ever stronger powith the TMS Company based in Oman that would better supsition in Greece as an international recognized Group was once port RINA development in this area of the Middle East. more confirmed.

Ugo Salerno with Cpt. Eberhard Koch of Oesterreichischer Lloyd Seereederei (Cyprus) Ltd.

Stefano Bertilone, Michele Francioni, Spyros Capralos, Spyridon Zolotas and Takis Koutris

Karen Kokabi, Spyridon Zolotas, Ugo Salerno, Nicky Pappadakis, Paolo Moretti and Themis A. Petrakis

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties TSAKOS open house receptions This unique double gathering held every two years, attracts hundred of guests to the gardens of the Tsakos Group’s headquarters building, Megaron Makedonia in Syngrou Avenue, to witness to the Group’s successes. One should bear in mind that the Group has become a robust international shipping entity within a period of 40 years!

During the cocktail parties the inauguration of Consulate of Paraguay - Athens, of which Nikolas P. Tsakos has been appointed consul, took place.

Celebrating the successes of the last two years our hosts and their personnel created a superlative party atmosphere on all counts: good food, excellent cold refreshments and drinks including special wines, a friendly atmosphere and a good chance to meet everyone from the circuit of Posidonia and politics!

Nikolas P. Tsakos - President & CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd, Yukito Higaki - President of Imabari Shipbuilding Co. & Top Management of Imabari Shipbuilding Co.

Inauguration of Consulate of Paraguay - Athens

Andreas Bisbas- Director of Tsakos Shipping (London) Ltd., Andrew Hawkins -Insurance Manager of Tsakos Shipping (London) Ltd., Geoff Hawkins- Chairman of Argosy Insurance Company Ltd., Joan G.R. Hawkins, Nathaniel R. Hawkins Insurance Trainee and Charalambos Hajimichael General Manager of Tsakos Shipping and Trading S.A.

Capt. Panagiotis N. Tsakos and Maria Damanaki - European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Vasilis Papageorgiou - Deputy Chairman of Tsakos Shipping and Trading S.A, Capt. Panagiotis N. Tsakos - Founder of Tsakos Group, together with Li Kejun ex Chairman of China Classification Society, his wife and daughter

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties WISTA Hellas celebrates Posidonia 2014 with an enjoyable evening of Greek flavors and wines The WISTA Hellas 2014 Posidonia reception was held on June 3, at the Vive Mar Bar in Voula, where members and Wista visiting members from other countries gathered to enjoy a lovely evening of wine tasting and Greek flavors. WISTA Hellas sponsors, as well as Press representatives also joined the successful event which ended up hosting over 250 WISTA supporters in all!

The Board of Directors of WISTA Hellas greeted and welcomed each of their guests including many of the previous WISTA Hellas Board Executives as well as prominent names in the shipping community and grasped the opportunity to enjoy the relaxing evening with them.

The 2014 Posidonia Exhibition attracted both exhibitors and visitors from many countries and proved to be one of the most successful events dating back to its founding. WISTA Hellas’s reception was very well received as the Association’s tribute to the Exhibition while combining it with a cheerful summer kick-off in an environment conducive to appreciating some of what Greece

Wista Hellas President Angie Hartmann with George Tsouris (PEPEN)

has to offer while also doing what WISTA does best, providing the perfect atmosphere to network within the company of others in the shipping industry.

The success of the gathering was evident, not only from the attendance, but easily judged by the still packed venue of guests well after the party should have long before ended.

The event was supported by Eleni Chrysikopoulou and Claire Perifanou and sponsored by Barafakas, Zitsas, Zoinos and Vourvoukeli wineries, who provided the array of Greek wines, offered during the reception as well as the services of Sokratis Ioannidis, the Sommelier who gave the guests useful tips about the wines served.

During the event, the President, Angie Hartmann remarked: “We have always been aware of the fact that the Greek shipping industry stands strong in many aspects and in rough weathers.

This year’s Posidonia is yet another proof to that and demonstrates the whole world’s deep estimation to the contribution of Greek shipping to world shipping. I am happy that we can celebrate this tonight, together with so many members and good friends, many of whom have travelled a long way to be here with us. After all, this is the essence of WISTA: Team spirit, hard work and friendship”.

(l to r) The Board of WISTA Hellas: Maria Mavroudi, Ioanna Topaloglou, Marina Papaioannou, Dorothea Ioannou and Angie Hartmann

Members of the Board with Guests

The Board with guests

Jenny Pournara, Maria-Christina Ktistakis, Anna-Maria Monogioudi and Artemis Laiou

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Receptions & Parties

Petros Pappas, Dorothea Ioannou and Spyros Capralos

George Xiradakis, Angie Hartmann and Marina Papaioannou

Aegean Protective Coatings 25 successful years celebrated by Aegean Protective Coatings S.A. Aegean Protective Coatings has completed 25 years of successful activities in the field of marine protective coatings.

Capt. Pantelis Monogioudis, his children Anna-Maria, Dimitris and John as well as the employees of the company welcomed their friends, partners and customers at a great reception, to celebrate Posidonia 2014.

It must be noted that Aegean Protective Coatings is a representative of PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, which is a world leader in coatings.

Aegean Protective Coatings and their partners from PPG Coatings had the chance to discuss with customers and friends on the recent exciting developments of the group, such as the establishment of new modern training facilities in Acharnai-Athens, giving the opportunity to their customers to familiarize themselves with the products from PPG’s Protective and Marine Coatings business.

Aegean Protective Coatings S.A team

Cpt. A. Manouras, T. Molenda and Cpt. P. D. Monogioudis

J. Scoutas with Cpt. P. D. Monogioudis

Cpt. P. D. Monogioudis, A-M Monogioudi, M. Psomas, T. Molenda and A. Psoma of PPG JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 23

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Seminars & Conferences HELMEPA 32 years of proac ve opera on HELMEPA honors shipping personali es at its Conference during Posidonia June 4, marked the 32nd Anniversary to the day of the conception of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association- HELMEPA, which celebrated the occasion by holding a Conference titled “Energy efficiency measures on existing vessels”, within the framework of Posidonia 2014.

Opening the proceedings, HELMEPA’s Chairman Dr John Coustas, welcomed all partici- Jeffrey G. Lantz pants and underlined the fact that for 32 years, the Association has managed to materialize its mandate in bringing together seafarers, ship owners and other members of the Greek maritime community under a single common aim; to voluntarily work towards the common goals of increasing environmental awareness and bolstering safety and security at sea.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs Maria Damanaki honored the event and, when addressing

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner on Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

(l to r) R. Sadler – CEO Lloyd’s Register, L. Varnavidis – Grants Committee Chairman, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Dr. J. Koustas 24 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

the audience, expressed her hope that her presence might play a useful role to the objectives of the conference. She reflected on the importance of the conference for maritime transport and promised, in her capacity as Commissioner, to listen to the issues presented and take the greater environmental concerns expressed

by HELMEPA back to the Commission in Brussels. She concluded by saying that “the aim remains to actively seek out a fruitful future cooperation, embracing all stakeholders, taking into account the exponential rise in global population, which demands ever-increasing energy that will eventually lead to the opening of a new chapter on energy efficiency on an international scale”.

Distinguished guest speakers on the panel covered all angles pertinent to the title of the Conference. They each in turn elaborated on issues dealing with the potential for eco retrofit options, the US perspective on ship efficiency, LNG alternatives and bunker consumption monitoring and reporting.

Dr. Ing. Henning Brauer, Principal Consultant Maritime Advisory, DNV GL, spoke on the potential for Eco Retrofit options. Professor Nikolaos P. Kyrtatos of the National Technical University of Athens, provided a critical overview of energy efficiency improvement measures on existing vessels. Dionisis Antonopoulos, Technical Service Manager, Wärtsilä Greece S.A., gave the audience an insight into the LNG alternative. Dimitris Vastarouchas, DCOO/Technical Director, Danaos Shipping Co Ltd, offered a fascinating glimpse into bunker consumption monitoring and reporting systems they are using on their ships. Jeffrey G. Lantz, Director, Commercial Regulations & Standards, US Coast Guard Headquarters and Chairman of IMO Council, invited by HELMEPA, flew in specially from Washington DC and presented “The issue of ship efficiency at IMO from the US perspective”, giving participants the latest information on current US standards, future directions and more particularly, the relevant US submission to IMO. The 30-year-long relationship built on mutual respect between HELMEPA and the US Coast Guard was once again affirmed by Mr Lantz, when he presented the Association’s new publication,

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Seminars & Conferences

(l to r) C. Prekezes – Executive Coordinator, HELMEPA, D. Vastarouchas – DCOO/Technical Director, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd., Prof. Ν. Κyrtatos – N.T.U.A., D. Antonopoulos – Technical Service Manager, Wärtsilä Greece S.A., Commissioner Μ. Damanaki, Dr. J. Koustas – HELMEPA Chairman, J. Lantz – Commercial Regulations & Standards, USCG Headquarters and Chairman of IMO Council, Dr. Ing. H. Brauer – Principal Consultant Maritime Advisory, DNV GL

“HELMEPA’s Guide on US Coast Guard Port State Control Examinations”, to the participants at the conclusion of his presentation.

The publication in English, is a product of a joint HELMEPA and USCG decision taken in May 2013, is addressed by Admiral J.A. Servidio and provides comprehensive guidelines to comply with Port

State Control as it is executed by the USCG on foreign vessels.

“This effective all-inclusive publication will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable tool on board HELMEPA member-vessels sailing in US waters”, Mr Lantz stated.

At the conclusion of the conference, the newly-named Honorary Members were inducted, during a special ceremony. Captain Panayiotis Tsakos, Efthimios Mitropoulos, Joseph Angelo and Nikolaos Tsavliris were all presented with a specially-designed Commemorative plaque and Certificate to mark the event. They each expressed their sincere gratitude in receiving this honor and pledged their continued dedication to the scope of the Association.

Lloyd’s Register Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Richard Sadler, together with Lambros Varnavides, Grants Committee Chairman of Lloyd’s Register Foundation (the Foundation) announced that the Grants Committee had decided to extend funding of HELMEPA’s Environmental Campaign and for a duration of a further three years. They both expressed their admiration of the work of the Association in both nurturing an environmental consciousness and safety spirit within shipping and providing voluntary environmental education to the youth of this country.

It is worth noting that Lloyd’s Register of Shipping is not only one of the oldest Associate Corporate Members but also the Association’s greatest donor, who has supported many initiatives taken over the years for the benefit of society.

RINA: Respect for the environment and was held on the 4th of June.

The presentations were delivered by Paolo Moretti, RINA General Manager for Marine Business Solutions and his Deputy and responsible for Marine Innovation, Andrea Cogliolo. The event was moderated by Andreas Papalimneos, Manager of Piraeus Training Center.

The panel gave an overview of regulations relevant to the environmental protection with a special focus on fuel efficiency/air emissions reduction measures and LNG fuelled ships, an area where RINA has a great expertise to offer.

As expected, the Q&A time was very active with lots of interesting topics discussed.

Andrea Cogliolo, Andreas Papalimneos and Paolo Moretti

RINA, the International Classification Society, has been present also to this year’s successful Posidonia 2014 exhibition that attracted the attention of the global shipping community for the week from 2 to 6 of June.

The RINA Seminar organized during the exhibition in the Conference Hall attracted great attention of over 200 participants. This year had the title “Environmental update: Could compliance with the regulations be cost effective?”

26 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Seminars & Conferences Making a DATE with DNV GL: New Support Centre at Piraeus will bring customers direct access to experts DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and a leading risk and sustainability service provider, briefed the press on plans to increase customer access to DNV GL experts to at the Posidonia exhibition in Greece. Nikos Boussounis, DNV GL Maritime Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for the East Mediterranean, Black & Caspian Seas, set out how a new support centre in Piraeus would offer customers a direct line to technical experts and expanded plan approval services.

Over the last several years, Greek owners have emerged from the global financial crisis in a stronger position than ever before,

Andreas Bodman

Nikos Boussounis

Stefan Deucker

Tor Svensen

said Mr Boussounis. The Greek shipping fleet is continuously growing and has taken back its mantle as the largest ship owning nation. Investment was booming, as Greek owners have invested in both new buildings and young second hand vessels, and as a result the Greek fleet is among the youngest with an average age of only 9.9 years.

To support the industry Mr Boussounis announced that DNV GL would be making a significant commitment to its Greek customers by establishing a new customer support centre in Piraeus, alongside the existing office. “Beginning in 2015 we will have a centre that will offer direct access to technical experts (DATE). Additionally, we will be expanding our plan approval department so that we can offer the full range of approval works for ships in operation,” he said.

The new DATE programme will offer customers in Greece access to experts based in Piraeus, with a wide ranging multi-disciplinary technical base, including: Classification Systematics, hull, machinery, stability, safety, pollution, among others. “This initiative is a further step toward being able to offer our customers the broadest range of services locally,” said Mr Boussounis. “As the world’s largest classification society, the depth of technical expertise that we can offer to our customers is unmatched and we want to make sure that they can tap into this resource more easily than ever before”.

The DATE programme and expanded approval services join a strong bulker expert team – with two dedicated ship type experts (STE) offering regulatory, efficiency and technical support on site in Piraeus. Alongside this, a strong training presence with the DNV GL Academy and a strategic research and innovation team Neil Bellefontaine of World Maritime based in Greece reflected University DNV GL’s commitment to continued investment in the region, said Mr Boussounis.

About DNV GL Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organisations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance services along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

DNV GL and WMU team

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 27

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Seminars & Conferences UGS President speaks out as Posidonia 2014 draws to a close Michael D. Chandris, Theodore El. Veniamis, John K. Lyras and Dr. Matheos D. Los The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), Theodore Veniamis, during the press conference to Greek and foreign journalists on the occasion of Posidonia Exhibition 2014 noted, inter alia, the following:

sector to the GDP which in the last two years exceeded 7% of the overall GDP as well as the creation of over 192.000 jobs. Moreover, the two studies highlight the potential of the sector in becoming the key driver of the Greek economy through further establishment of maritime activities in Greece and increase of employment in the various subsectors of the shipping industry.

The two studies allege that the existence of a stable and competitive institutional framework is a basic prerequisite.

• Further to the above, the IOBE has produced a new study, not yet publicized, referring to the boosting of employment of Greeks in oceangoing shipping. The study assesses the expected advantages from job creation of Greek seafarers in case Greek nationals are employed as officers and ratings on the Greek-owned fleet in substitution of foreigners.

In such a case, new jobs will be created directly on board ships and indirectly taking into account the Michael D. Chandris, Theodore El. Veniamis, John K. Lyras and Dr. Matheos D. Los multiplier effect on the economy, and there will be • Posidonia 2014 brought once again to the fore, the performan increase of the annual domestic product to the tune of € 2,8 ance of the international shipping industry, this entreprebn up to the optimum theoretical scenario of € 5 bn. neurial sector which offers irreplaceable and high level The above are feasible on condition that economic terms will preseaborne transportation services to global trade. vail in the Greek labour market in accordance with the terms of the • In Posidonia 2014 it is asserted that the Greek shipping maininternational maritime labour market and the relevant Internatains its leading position in the global ranking of shipping national Conventions. It should be borne in mind that the Greektions, despite the adverse conditions in the international shipowned vessel has to be competitive in order to survive in the inping market. ternational shipping arena. Moreover, the immediate operation of In particular, the impressive numbers of Greek-owned shipping the private maritime education becomes a necessity in view of the are: limited capacity for cadets of the existing Marine Academies.

- 3,669 vessels with an average age of 9.9 years Unemployment is the basic problem which the Greek society - 16.16% of the global fleet in dwt faces nowadays and, therefore, coping with it is decisive for the - 46.72% of the European fleet in gt recovery of the Greek economy following the last six years of - 18.51% of the world bulk carriers fleet in dwt economic recession. This study confirms that shipping could - 23.32% of the world crude oil tankers fleet in dwt contribute in facing unemployment by offering professional op- 13.81% of the world chemical and product tankers fleet in dwt tions of work to unemployed youngsters in this dynamic sector.

These numbers prove the key role of Greek-owned fleet in mar• Posidonia 2014 coincided with the Greek Presidency of the itime developments and its strategic importance for Greece as Council of the European Union, which is at a crossroads with sigwell as for our trading partners. nificant changes in the governance of its legislative institutions.

• The attention was drawn to the importance of Greek-owned Some days ago the members of the new European Parliament shipping for Greece. were elected and soon the new Commissioners will be apIn 2013, two studies concerning the importance of shipping for pointed. the Greek economy were published: the study of the Foundation European shipping should be placed at the center of the vision of European policy. The maintenance of a competitive fleet of Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) entitled “The concontrolled by the European Union is of the utmost importance tribution of Oceangoing Shipping to the Greek economy” and for servicing its economic, commercial, energy and strategic inthe study of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) entitled “Impact terests. However, the continuation of the existing Guidelines on Assessment of Greek Shipping on the Economy and Society”. state aids to maritime transport is a necessary prerequisite for Both studies, each one following its own methodology, concur the competitiveness of Community shipping. These Guidelines, to the same assessments and conclusions. They characterise for many years, provide the institutional framework for the Greek shipping as one of the basic pillars of the national economy, emphasizing the important contribution of the maritime cont. on page 31 28 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands Liberia and Greece celebrate successful relationship of 65 years at Posidonia 2014

Pictured here are Yoram Cohen (centre right) and the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of LISCR Greece, Michalis Pantazopoulos, during a visit to their stand by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras

The ties between Liberia and Greece have traditionally been very strong. And, like good wine, those ties only get better with age.

Posidonia 2014 was a major success for the Liberian Registry with record-breaking crowds of current and potential clients, visitors, and friends visiting the Registry’s exhibition stand. Posidonia 2014 broke new event records this year with more than 19,421 visitors, 1,843 exhibitors from a total of 93 countries.

As the Greek fleet expansion program aggressively continues, a total of 28 vessel registries participated at this year’s Posidonia in hopes of attracting the attention of Greek shipowners, however, the Liberian Registry remains the shining star as the number one flag of choice for Greek-owned vessels, second to the Greek national flag.

Senior Vice President and General Manager of LISCR Hellas, Michalis Pantazopoulos, recounts that on March 11, 1949, the first commercial vessel, the S.S. World Peace, owned by interests controlled by Stavros Niarchos, and under charter to Getty Oil Co, was registered with Liberia. Today, the Liberian fleet stands at approximately 4,000 ships, and Greek-owned tonnage features very prominently in those figures.

Indeed, statistics recently released by the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (GSCC) show that, in deadweight terms, 17 percent of Greek-controlled ships were registered under the Liberian flag at end-March, 2014 – second only to the Greek national flag itself. This is an increase of 3.5m dwt on last year. A total of 678 Greek-controlled ships, aggregating 49.05m dwt, are currently registered with Liberia, compared to 819 vessels aggregating 76.11m dwt flying the Greek flag.

Mr. Pantazopoulos says, “Liberia and Greece share a strong maritime tradition of successful cooperation dating back 65 years to the birth of the Liberian Registry. It is a source of great satisfaction to know that Greek owners still value the efficiency, safety and responsiveness of the Liberian flag administration. It is often said that it was the Greeks who gave birth to the Liberian Registry, and it is very 30 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

gratifying to see how they have remained with us.”

At this year’s Posidonia exhibit, Liberia celebrated 65 years since the first vessel – fittingly, of Greek ownership – was registered with the Liberian Administration. Since this time, Greek owners have continued to find the quality, knowledge and responsiveness of the Liberian Registry a perfect fit for their requirements.

Additional highlights of the Registry’s Posidonia exhibit included displays commemorating the registration of the very first Liberian flagged vessel, the renowned S.S. WORLD PEACE, as well as photographs of modern day Greek-owned vessels recently registered with Liberia.

The Registry also showcased the latest exciting developments including the recent launch of its powerful state-of-the-art mobile application (App) to enable owners, managers, operators and others to communicate and interact with the registry on a round-the-clock basis.

The Registry’s FlagState App builds on Liberia’s commitment to provide innovative technology and services to its clients, who own, manage and operate more than 4,000 vessels worldwide. From an iPhone, iPad or an android device, users can read up-to-the-minute news and developments; access a comprehensive Global Maritime Events Calendar and, with the click of a button, add events to their calendar and share upcoming events; verify the authenticity of certificates and documents for Liberian-flagged ships; search Liberia’s global network of inspectors and ISM/ISPS/MLC auditors; validate seafarer credentials; submit an MLC Complaint Resolution Form; track the daily vessel positions on an interactive world map of all Liberian-flagged ships; browse photos of Liberia’s quality fleet; and quickly access the registry’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles.

Posidonia is always a great opportunity for members of the Registry to visit with and renew valued relationships with clients and friends at numerous festivities throughout the week. Staff from the Registry’s global network of offices, including its dedicated Piraeus base, were delighted to welcome attendees to the Liberian Registry’s stand at the Metropolitan Expo Centre. At this year’s event, the Registry was honored to have its stand visited by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. The Registry’s Administration was also thrilled to have the presence of the Commissioner of the Liberian Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Mr. Binyah Kesselly; Chairman of the YCF Group, Mr. Yoram Cohen; President of the YCF Group, Mr. Adam Cohen; Chief Executive Officer of the Liberian Registry and YCF Maritime, Scott Bergeron; and the Senior Vice President of the Liberian Registry and Managing Director of the Registry’s Piraeus office, Michalis Pantazopoulos.

The Liberian Registry continues to grow with the addition of ships from both existing and new owners. The fleet now stands at approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating 136m gt and over 207m dwt, which is nearly 40% larger than its closest rival, Marshall Islands.

While engaged in this program of planned, quality expansion, the Liberian Registry has not lost sight of its primary objective of staying close to its customers and taking proactive steps, where appropriate, to protect their interests. This philosophy can be seen in a number of recent initiatives, not least the industry-leading role which Liberia has taken in connection with its unique and exclusive Harmonized Audit Program. Liberia is the only Flag State that provides ship owners the op-

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands tion of harmonized audits, combining vessel certification for ISM and ISPS Codes and the annual safety inspection into a single visit, with important cost and time savings for owners and operators.

Liberia’s value-added service eliminates the need for engaging three different auditors. The key to Liberia’s ability to offer such services is its global network of more than 300 Nautical Inspectors and Auditors, trained exclusively by the Liberian Administration, who are conducting ISM/ISPS and MLC 2006 Code verification and certification audits for many of our ship owners.

Most recently, the Liberian Registry has developed a sophisticated “Advanced Notice of Arrival” (ANOA) program to screen advance notice of ship arrivals as part of a detention prevention plan to help maintain its independent ranking among the safest and most efficient ship registries in the world. The overall objective is to maintain and strengthen the already excellent safety record of the Liberian flag, and to further reduce detention rates, especially in Australia, China, the EU and the United States.

All Liberian vessels calling at US, EU, Australian and Chinese ports must provide an Advanced Notice of Arrival (ANOA), which can be used by the Liberian administration to assess the probability of a PSC boarding. Thereafter, appropriate steps can be taken if necessary to prevent a detention. Under Liberia’s Zone Notification program, if the Administration has not received an ANOA from vessels entering LRIT zones which Liberia has established around the US, China, Australia and the Paris MoU countries, it can use their LRIT notification system to assess the probability of a PSC boarding, and take appropriate action when necessary.

Meanwhile, Liberia has firmly established itself as the leading international ship registry for successful Maritime Labour Convention 2006 compliance. Ninety-seven percent of qualifying Liberian-flag ships had achieved successful Maritime Labour Convention 2006 compliance just weeks after the Convention entered into force, putting Liberia far ahead of any other international ship registry. The Liberian-flag fleet is the second largest in the world and includes 3,173 ships to which MLC 2006 applies.

Liberia was the first flag state to ratify MLC 2006, and one of the first to adopt in house measures to anticipate implementation of the Con-

vention. Other flag states have been relying on class societies to inspect vessels. While still recognizing inspections conducted by class, as Recognized Organizations where appropriate, Liberia elected to deal with shipowners directly, using its dedicated global workforce of more than 180 MLC-trained inspectors to conduct inspections. The figures show that this was the right decision.

This past year the Liberian Registry also launched an online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form for seafarers prior to the Convention’s entry into force. Liberia is committed to ensuring that seafarers who serve on Liberian-flag ships have decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace and fair employment.

Seafarers are encouraged to use the ship’s onboard complaint procedures to resolve complaints at the earliest possible opportunity in accordance with MLC 2006. However, in the event that a complaint is unable to be resolved on board, Liberia has provided the online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form (accessible from the homepage of the Registry’s website at www.liscr.com) to help seafarers resolve all genuine and valid complaints.

Liberia’s online Maritime Labour Complaints Resolution Form is a way of ensuring that seafarers on Liberian-flag ships have all possible resources available to them for reporting any genuine grievances to those who have the authority to resolve such matters in accordance with the letter and spirit of MLC 2006.

cont. from page 28 operation of Community shipping safeguarding a level playing field for it.

• Finally, there was briefing on the UGS Social Welfare and Solidarity Programme which since 2012, in a discreet way, supports deprived groups hit by the dire economic conditions. The social welfare initiatives of the UGS are of a pan-hellenic character and through a systematically organized mechanism benefit directly more than 50,000 individuals in 110 regions of continental and insular Greece.

In particular, the catering programme with monthly packages of food supplies benefits 11,000 families and is implemented in co-operation with 30 bishoprics, 25 municipalities and 60 stake-

holders organizations in and out of the Attica region.

As regards medical assistance for vulnerable social groups, the medical care programme “Health for all” financed by the UGS and implemented by Doctors of the World has already visited more than 30 regions and has offered medical services to 9,000 deprived citizens all over Greece, and it continues at a rapid pace. The UGS also supports with specific actions 40 care centres and social organizations protecting infants, children, disabled and elderly people.

Moreover, repair work and upgrading of equipment and infrastructure of the Marine Academies hosting the future generations of Greek seafarers are in progress.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 31

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands PANAMANIAN SERVICES: A dynamic presence at the Posidonia 2014

Soula Billia and Roula Prokakou with Panamenian Services team and quests

This year, PANAMANIAN SERVICES (PANAMAIKES IPIRESIES) and its affiliate company RS TECHNICAL & CONSULTANCY SERVICES participated for the first time at the POSIDONIA 2014 exhibition.

The company with its dynamic presence at this year’s exhibition wanted to properly present to the Piraeus shipping community its renewed profile and spirit, under the new management that runs the company from October 2012.

The company’s management is new but its leading partners, Roula Prokakou and Chrysoula Bilia, are well known to the shipping community due to their long presence and experience in the Greek maritime sector, as both have been engaged in the past as leading members of the General Consulate of Panama in Piraeus from 1978 until 2000 as well as main executives of PANAMANIAN SERVICES from October 2000.

PANAMANIAN SERVICES provides a wide range of consultancy services, undertaking the registration procedures of vessel under Panama flag, representing in Piraeus and widely in Greece a large number of Panamanian law firms, maintaining a long-term mutual support relationships always focusing on providing the best possible services to its clients as well as to the Panamanian law firms.

Following the needs of the modern shipping industry, a technical company under the name RS TECHNICAL & CONSULTANCY SERVICES has been created; being fully authorized by Intermaritime Certification Services (ICS) Class, a fully recognized by the Panamanian government Organization (RO and RSO), RS TECHNICAL & CONSULTANCY SERVICES represents the ICS Class in Greece and offers a complete scope of solutions and serv32 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

ices for vessels registered under the Panamanian flag in relation to the SOLAS, MARPOL, ILO and MLC regulations.

RS TECHNICAL & CONSULTANCY SERVICES has achieved several strategic agreements and nowadays, a wide range of services may be provided for a total of 26 flags. As far as vessel registered under the Maltese flag, RS TECHNICAL & CONSULTANCY SERVICES is actually the main representative in Greece of VALETTA COMMERCIAL SERVICES, one of the most important vessel registration companies of Malta.

The main objective of PANAMANIAN SERVICES is to provide a wide range of dedicated services to its clients (which in the case of PANAMANIAN SERVICES are not just simple clients but mostly collaborators and friends who honour with their trust, confidence and support the PANAMANIAN SERVICES team for many years). In order to be able to ensure its smooth and proper operation, PANAMANIAN SERVICES has been equipped with university graduates who are specialized in the fields of maritime law, business and finance, naval architecture, being constantly trained and re-educated being accredited by worldwide organizations such as Lloyds, DNV, Bureau Veritas etc.

In such a way, the two partners managed to exceed the borders of Greece being able to offer services in the UAE, in Manila, Indonesia and Singapore.

The common vision of PANAMANIAN SERVICES is the transition to the next generation which is already present in the company and shall struggle to combine knowledge and experience so as to maintain the confidence of the shipping community always focusing on the proper and immediate customer service: John Kougioumtzoglou (son of Soula Bilia) Merchant Navy Engineer, Antonis Chatzinikolaou Naval Architect/Marine Engineer (son of Roula), Christina Kougioumtzoglou (daughter of Soula) actually in the first year of Business Administration studies at the University of Patras and Ursula (daughter of Roula), being a bank executive for many years, who will soon join the PANAMANIAN SERVICES team.

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands ABS ABS enjoyed a particularly active and successful week at Posidonia.

Some of the highlights for ABS included the Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras and the Minister of Shipping, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis visiting the ABS stand on the opening evening and a visit from the Union of Greek Shipowners delegation visit later in the week.

ABS met many clients, both longstanding and new and had the opportunity to discuss how ABS can provide assistance and services for their shipping and increasing offshore operations needs.

ABS played an active part in all the surrounding activities: The Posidonia Cup, the Football Match and the Golf Tournament. ABS was proud to sup- The Prime Minister Antonios Samaras and the Minister of Shipping, port The Posidonia Cup and was extremely pleased to come second in their Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, visiting ABS Stand. (l to r) Howard Fireman (ABS Senior Vice President, Asset Performance race class.

Management President), Todd Grove ( ABS Chief Technology Officer)

View of ABS stand

The Union of Greek Ship Owners visiting ABS stand. Among Others, Theodoros Veniamis (President of UGS), Konstantinos Angelopoulos (owner of Arcadia Shipmanagement Co. Ltd.), Tony Nassif (Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, ABS)

ICS Greek Branch A successful presence The stand of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Greek Branch received high visibility and attracted the interest of many visitors – local and from abroad- who wished to be informed about the ICS Professional Qualification and Training programmes.

Members of the Institute also visited the stand and expressed their positive comments about the ICS. Also, Natalia Margioli and her associates were happy to welcome the International Vice President of the ICS, Bruce Ogilvy, with whom members, current and potential students had the chance to discuss and express their inN. Tsakos of TEN, N. Margioli, H. Hadjimichael, FICS and N. Tsavliris, terest about the ICS Membership Qualification.

FICS

N. Margioli, FICS, Vice-Chairman of ICS Greek Branch and N. A. Tsavliris, FICS, Chairman of ICS Greek Branch

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands Jotun Hellas Ltd

IRI/Marshall Islands

Posidonia 2014 turned out to be a success for Jotun Hellas Ltd with record-breaking crowds of current and potential clients, visitors and friends visiting the company’s exhibition stand.

George Vranakis, managing director of Jotun Hellas and his expert team made a very strong showing during Posidonia week.

JOTUN is recognized as the leading supplier of high technology coatings and the most advanced range of antifoulings, today protecting over 15,000 vessels all over the world.

In more than 50 countries JOTUN assists and advises customers on the most effective solutions against corrosion and fouling and is unique as no other marine paint manufacturer can provide the benefits of its coatings and cathodic protection.

(l to r) Maria Filippopoulou, International Registries, Inc (IRI), Sonia Gioula, IRI Hellas Ltd. Poly Rozaki, (IRI) and Lucy Mylonaki, IRI Hellas Ltd.

E. Hersve and H. Hvalvik with the Shipping Minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis

The Marshall Islands Registry’s stand was again very well attended and the Registry’s delegation was pleased with the business contacts and relationships that were newly made and renewed during the week-long event.

Theofylos Xenakoudis, managing director of IRI’s Piraeus office with Lucy Mylonaki and their associates, were there to offer their valuable services to IRI’s customers and visitors in general.

Greek owners, who have long played a major role within the IRI/Marshall Islands Registry, have helped elevate the registry to more than 104 million gross tons and nearly 3.183 vessels at the end of May 2014 and are responsible for 16 percent of the tonnage in the Registry today.

JOTUN team Owners visiting Jotun' stand Tony Guida, Bill Gallagher, Vicenzo Bellalba, International Registries, Inc (IRI)

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POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands Bureau Veritas

DNV GL

George Andreadis, Rodianos Papastefanou, Paillette Palaiologou, George Xyradakis, Anastasios Angelopoulos, Claude Maillot, Lambros Chahalis, Panagiotis Tsakos, Mike Kasmas, Philippe Donche-Gay, Didier Bouttier

Large and impressive and in a prominent position, the DNV GL stand attracted a great number of visitors. Dr Marina Papaioannou, DNV GL Academy coordinator and also a member of DNV GL Academy Hellas, Nikos Boussounis and George Teriakidis, together with other high level experts were at the ready to offer their best to the Greek and international shipping community.

DNV GL is an independent foundation whose primary aim is to safeguard life, property and the environment.

For DNV GL, environmental issues are top priority and its vision is “global impact for a safe and sustainable future”. The society is already serving the industry extensively within this field and spending considerable resources to develop state of the art competence and services.

The French classification society’s classy, prominently placed stand once more impressed the myriad of visitors at the exhibition. Always busy but well-manned, BV surveyors and administrators were on hand to both deal with queries and to offer BV hospitality to their visitors.

As one of the world’s leading inspection and certification societies, BV offers its large number of international clients a comprehensive product line of services to help them expand their business and improve performance.

Quality and truth are BV’s symbols, and it has been faithful to these in many ways during its long existence since 1828. In terms of competitiveLambros Chahalis, Claude Maillot, Anastasios Angelopoulos ness, efficiency seems to be of paramount importance for Bureau Veritas.

George Andreadis, Paillette Palaiologou, Lambros Chahalis, Rodianos Papastefanou

Paillette Palaiologou, Theodora Kafetzi, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Anastasios Angelopoulos and Lambros Chahalis

Andreas Pagalos with Nikos Boussounis

Athanasios Reisopoulos, Nikos Boussounis, Andreas Pagalos, Tor Svensen, Henrik O’ Madsen

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Stands ClassNK ClassNK, led by Mr Noboru Ueda, had an impressive and very busy presence at Posidonia 2014, as usual.

Aristidis Dalakas, regional manager East Mediterranean and Black Sea, Dimitri Tsiftsis, general manager Piraeus office, and ClassNK staff were on hand to answer any questions and provide the latest information on their activities to the maritime community.

The Japanese Classification Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, was founded in November 1899 as the Teikoku Kaiji Kyokai (the Imperial Marine Association) but the Society was relaunched under its current name, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Japan Marine Association), in 1946 in the aftermath of World War Two. The early years of the Society were spent promoting a wide range of shipping-related activities, very different from the focused technical role that ClassNK plays today.

ClassNK provides classification and technical services to roughly 20 percent of the world’s commercial fleet and is authorized to conduct surveys on behalf (r to l) Aristidis Dalakas, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and Dimitris Tsiftsis of 109 flag administrations.

MAN Diesel & Turbo MAN’s stand, impressive as ever, was one of the busiest throughout the exhibition.

The world’s leading designer of large engines was there in full force…

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, based in Augsburg, Germany, is the world’s leading provider of large-bore diesel engines and turbomachinery for marine and stationary applications. It designs two-stroke and fourstroke engines that are manufactured both by the company and by its licensees. The engines have power outputs ranging from 450 kW to 87 MW. MAN Diesel & Turbo also designs and manufactures gas turbines of up to 50 MW, steam turbines of up to 150 MW and compressors with volume flows of up to 1.5 million m³/h and pressures of up to 1,000 bar. The product range is rounded off by turbochargers, CP propellers, gas engines and chemical reactors. MAN Diesel & Turbo’s range of goods includes complete marine propulsion systems, turbomachinery units for the oil & gas as well as the process industries and turnkey power plants. Customers receive worldwide after- Dionissis Christodoulopoulos - Managing Director MAN Diesel & Turbo Hellas Ltd., Dr. Stephan sales services marketed under the MAN Timmermann - Board Member MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, greets Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras and Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Minister of Shipping PrimeServ brand.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 37

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Events

BV evaluates ISO 26000 CSR award

Victor Restis receiving the award from Lambros A. Chahalis

Bureau Veritas Hellas has evaluated and assessed Enterprises Shipping & Trading S.A. according to ISO 26000, the first global voluntary standard on corporate social responsibility.

During the Bureau Veritas Hellas S.A. reception, which was held in Ecali Club on 30 May, 2014, the regional chief executive for the Hellenic and Black Sea region, Lambros A. Chahalis presented the evaluation report to Victor Restis and George Sarris.

As Mr Chachalis commented during the presentation, “We at BV support innovative solutions to improve sustainable actions and are very happy to present to the company, being the first in Greece, such an evaluation report. This management’s decision was greeted as a major leap forward in the firm’s trajectory since the era of its founder, Stamatios Restis, and one that further enhances the organization’s

commitment in all aspects of safety, environmental, and seafarer conditions of employment, across the ships of its whole fleet.”

The key benefits of ISO 26000 evaluation offers strategic advantage within each company’s competitive industry, streamlines internal processes and assures the implementation of commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, protects the brand image and increases customer and employee satisfaction, and attracts investors and sponsors concerned with social responsibility and sustainable development.

“Bureau Veritas Hellas S.A. is the first independent organization to perform such social responsibility evaluation in Greece and our auditors have extensive knowledge of specific industry sectors and local regulations, which enables them to provide solutions adapted to various needs,” said Mr Chahalis.

Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (TCM) S.A. achieves ISO 50001 certification by LR Lloyd's Register has awarded Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (TCM) with ISO 50001 certification attesting TCM’s commitment to continuously improve its energy efficiency by using best practice for efficient energy use and conservation throughout their fleet.

The Energy Management System is applicable to shipmanagement of a fleet of oil and chemical tankers trading worldwide, incorporating the safety and pollution prevention requirements of IMO resolution A.741 (18), the ISM Code and associated office activities.

“Certification to ISO 50001 was a milestone for TCM”, said Vassilis Papageorgiou, Vice Chairman of Tsakos Group at a presentation ceremony held during Posidonia.

Apostolos Poulovassilis, LR’s Regional Marine Manager, EMEA

38 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

commented, “These standards are about the whole process of energy management which is an integral part of TCM’s management systems and operating philosophy. The pleasure of handing over the certificate comes after a lot of hard work by TCM and LR in getting to this stage.”

Capt. Panagiotis Drosos, Managing Director of TCM, stated that the company’s commitment to safe, clean and efficient shipping operations - providing high quality services to the clients and being proactive in satisfying upcoming regulations, customer requirements and society’s expectations – is significantly supported by the certification.

Sokratis Dimakopoulos, TCM’s Deputy Managing Director, pointed out that “energy management is critical to the ship operations. Fuel cost is our major cost. Improving energy effi-

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Events internationally recognised standards, among them ISO 14001 for environmental management, OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety and ISO 9001 for quality management. Also, the Maria Tsakos TCM Academy has recently been accredited as an Approved Training Provider by Lloyd’s Register as well as certified to the BS EN ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Standard by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance.

The ISO 50001 standard is a voluntary international energy management system standard that specifies the requirements for establish(l-r) Dimitris Psaradakis, TCM Senior Technical Director, Richard Sadler, Sokratis Dimakopoulos, TCM Deputy Manag- ing, implementing, maintaining Director, Tom Boardley, Vassilis Papageorgiou, Vice Chairman of Tsakos Group, Capt. Panagiotis Drosos, TCM ing and improving an energyManaging Director, Apostolos Poulovassilis, Yannis Giannakopoulos, TCM HSQEE Marine Manager management system. It ciency reduces fuel consumption and as such reduces operating offers companies a systematic approach to continually imcost for TCM and its clients. In addition, being energy efficient prove energy performance, including energy efficiency, use and has become a legal and industry requirement and assists in reconsumption. It also provides shipping companies with a way ducing the environmental impact associated with CO2 emissions to actively reduce their energy consumption and associated from shipping operations. Therefore, certifying our energy manGHG emissions from ships. The standard presents a compreagement system in accordance with the ISO 50001 was essenhensive and clear approach to smart energy use, providing tial in enabling the company to have a system in place to imcompanies with a framework to manage their energy conprove energy performance on a continual basis.” sumption and, ultimately, to take advantage of renewable enTCM has previously achieved certification against a number of ergy technologies.

Aegean Shipping Management awarded Business Continuity certification by Lloyd's Register Aegean Shipping Management has become the first Greek shipping company and amongst the first worldwide to be awarded the ISO 22301 Business Continuity certification by LRQA. This certification further enhances Aegean’s already strong management systems structure, and demonstrates the company's commitment to increased resilience and uninterrupted day to day operations on land and sea.

During a ceremony held at both Lloyd's Register’s and Aegean’s stand on June 5, on the occasion of the Posidonia 2014 International Exhibition, Mr George Melissanidis, CEO of Aegean Shipping Management, received the certification against ISO

40 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

22301 from Lloyd’s Register. ISO 22301 is the international standard for Business Continuity specifying the requirements for setting up and managing an effective Business Continuity Management System (BCMS).

Aegean’s ISO 22301 certification is the fifth management systems certification awarded to the company by LRQA, following those of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management, ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management, OHSAS 18001:2007 for Occupational Health & Safety Management System and ISO 50001:2011 for Energy Management. This new ISO 22301 certification now serves to further strengthen

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Events

(l to r) Katerina Liana, EMBS Technical Manager, LRQA,Capt. Ilias Syrros, C.O.O. & HQSEE Manager, Aegean Shipping Management SA, Richard Sadler, CEO Lloyd’s Register, Georgia Panousi, HQSEE Coordinator, Aegean Shipping Management SA, George Melissanidis, CEO Aegean Shipping Management SA, Apostolos Poulovassilis, Regional Marine Manager, EMEA, Lloyd’s Register, Tom Boardley, Marine Director, Lloyd’s Register and Yannis Nikolaidis, IT Manager, Aegean Shipping Management SA

Aegean’s already solid integrated management systems structure and demonstrates the company’s commitment for increased resilience, uninterrupted operations and increased capability to handle disruption.

Mr George Melissanidis of Aegean Shipping Management said at the presentation ceremony: “Being the first Greek shipping company to achieve Business Continuity ISO 22301 certification we confirm our commitment for continuous improvement and enhancement of our customer satisfaction. This international standard will reassure our customers and interested parties for our Company's response abilities and mechanisms for quick recovery in any case required. Of course no one likes to encounter either natural or other disasters. However, we do believe that you need to be best prepared for such incidents when they do happen.” Mr Melissanidis continued, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hellenic Lloyd's & LRQA for their support and professional guidance not only during the recent certification process but throughout our long-term relationship.”

“Aegean Shipping Management S.A. joins the global elite of ISO 22301 certified companies, and becomes the first Greek shipping company to receive such a recognition which is a very significant achievement in the highly competitive and international tanker industry. We wish to congratulate Aegean management and staff for their efforts and continued commitment towards con-

tinuous improvement.” said Mr Apostolos Poulovassilis, Lloyd’s Register Marine Regional Manager EMEA.

About LRQA LRQA is a member of the Lloyd’s Register group. LRQA is a leading independent provider of assurance services including assessment, certification, validation, verification and training across a broad spectrum of standards and schemes.

About Lloyd’s Register Lloyd’s Register is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, Lloyd’s Register now operates across many industry sectors, with over 9000 employees in 78 countries.

Lloyd’s Register has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through its global technology centres and research network, Lloyd’s Register is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof its clients’ businesses.

About Aegean Shipping Management S.A. Aegean Shipping Management, based in Piraeus, Greece, operates a modern fleet of tanker ships, deployed internationally to transport oil products for the Aegean and its clients. Customers include large oil companies and global trading houses.

Built on a visionary strategy based on corporate growth, reliable service and customer needs, Aegean Shipping has invested in cutting-edge technology, enhancing its human resources and managing its fleet to the highest international standards.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 41

POSIDONIA 2014/THE AFTERMATH

Events Opening of the Bahamas Mari me Authority Office in Greece The Bahamas Maritime Authority, participating again in this year’s Posidonia Exhibition, hosted a highly successful reception at the prestigious Yacht Club of Greece during the Posidonia Cup held on 30 May 2014, following the long-awaited opening of the Authority’s office in Greece.

Earlier the same day during a short ceremony, Bahamas Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin MP, cut the traditional ribbon at the premises of the new office located at 10 A. Ambatielou Street, Piraeus, in the presence of a gathering which included Bahamian High Commissioner H.E. Eldred Bethel, BMA Chairman Anthony Kikivarakis and Deputy Chairman Peter Goulandris, BMA CEO and Managing Director, Commodore Davy F. Rolle, and guests.

During the opening the minister made the following comments: “For centuries the sea has been in the blood of the Greek people as it has with Bahamians. Both of our countries are island nations and their culture, heritage and history have been shaped in large measure by maritime trading traditions and seafaring. We have therefore much in common. The Bahamas Government has long cherished the goal of a Greek office and the closeness that exists between us has now been cemented with the opening of a new BMA office in Piraeus. It is quite a momentous occasion and fittingly, it coincides with one of the world’s greatest maritime events – Posidonia. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and thanks to the BMA for driving this project forward, to BMA’s board chairman, Anthony Kikivarakis, to deputy chairman, Peter John Goulandris, to CEO and MD, Davy Rolle, to the Authority’s staff both in London and here in Greece and my especial thanks to the lawyers, accountants and other ancillary staff without whom, this whole operation could not have happened. From today the BMA will directly service the Hellenic-based international maritime community – the largest single concentration of ship owners in the world, and the largest single block of Bahamas-flagged ship owners.

Today, Greece will join our offices in London, New York, Nassau and Hong Kong, and our agents in Germany and a registrar in Japan. And what better place for this inauguration – Posidonia 2014!

And since Greek ship owners form the backbone of our Registry, something that I think both countries can celebrate, I can assure you that the BMA will assist you in every possible way and provide ex42 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

cellent and efficient service. And if we don’t, I am utterly confident that you will let us know! After all, a two-way relationship is the essence of why we are here today. ” Similar announcements were made also at the reception and in a special Posidonia edition of the BMA, by the chairman, Mr Kikivarakis, who pointed out that “The Greek office has been long in the planning but now finally we’re here. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has invested heavily in technology in order to provide the best possible service. One of our latest achievements is the online registration system (BORIS) which has made the process far more user friendly and efficient and has been applauded by our clients.

In addition, the Bahamas Shipowners Association, many of whose members are Greek, provides us with excellent support and valuable feedback on all of our operations.

It is to be noted that the present chairman of the BSA is George D. Pateras.

The CEO and Managing Director of the BMA also made a statement in this special edition, announcing that the Piraeus office will be headed by EUR ING George Zarvanos, stating in his message that “The Register’s Greek tonnage is the highest of all our nationals, therefore it makes absolute sense for us to have a presence here in Piraeus. I am therefore extremely proud to celebrate and be part of this momentous occasion.

Of course we have had excellent relations with our Greek clients for a long time and our new registrar, George Zarvanos, has been working as a consultant to the BMA for the last six years.

The Authority’s watchwords have always been quality and service.

We continually strive to improve all aspects of our service to existing, new and potential clients and I am delighted that we can now, with George at the helm, offer an enhanced service to BMA Greek clients.

Our active membership of the IMO and our dedicated representation of all of our clients, have been critical in the formulation of clear, practical and proportionate regulation. We have a proven track record of submitting constructive and technically sound proposals and we strive to work closely and cooperatively with other delegations to find common ground and collaborations.

And as a member of IMO’s Steering Group for the Reduction of Administrative Requirements we aim to achieve a reduction of the administrative burdens on ship operators and masters and indeed administrations, particularly those of small island states.

I would like to extend my congratulations to George Zarvanos on his appointment as deputy director and manager of the BMA Maritime Services, Greece. I have no doubt that he and his support staff will serve the BMA’s clients in Greece with distinction.”

EUR ING George Zarvanos is familiar to most of the Greek shipping community. He graduated in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Sunderland and undertook postgraduate studies in Washington DC. He served as a reserve officer in the Hellenic Navy, followed by 36 years with ABS, initially in Piraeus and for the last 14 years as principal surveyor of the ABS Europe Division survey department headquarters in London. He has also been president of the London Chapter of the Propeller Club of the United States and vice president of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, etc.

EVENTS

The BV Commi ee meets in Grand Resort Lagonissi The 17th annual meeting of the Hellenic and Black Sea Committee of Bureau Veritas was held in May 2014, in Grand Resort Lagonissi, under the Chairmanship of George Procopiou and the presence of the Bureau Veritas Management, namely Didier Michaud-Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas, Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice-President Marine & Offshore Division, Didier Bouttier, Senior Vice President Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division South Europe, Middle East & Africa Zone, Dr. John Kokarakis, Technology & Business Development Director Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division, Lambros A. Chahalis, Vice President Regional Chief Executive Hellenic & Black Sea Region, Anastasios Angelopoulos, Deputy Country Chief Executive for Greece & Cyprus, Philippe Boisson, Communication Director, Jean-François Jean-Francois Segretain, Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos, Didier Michaud-Daniel, George Procopiou, Segretain, Marine Technical Director Marine & Philippe Donche-Gay, George Dalacouras, Didier Bouttier and Lambros A. Chahalis Offshore Division, Paillete Palaiologou, Sales, Marketing & Business Development Manager and Michael Sterghiou, Director SE Europe of BV Commodities.

The meeting, started with the announcement of the new Committee Members: Demetris Condylis, Commercial Manager of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A. and Captain Elias Gotsis, President of Eurotankers Inc. Didier Michaud-Daniel presented the Bureau Veritas Group Activities for the year 2013, which showed once again a continuation of the strong growth of the Group.

Philippe Donche-Gay presented to the members of the Committee the Marine & Offshore Activities for the year 2013.

Lambros Chahalis presented the latest Marine & Offshore Activities in the Hellenic & Lambros A. Chahalis, Paris Dragnis, Victor Restis and George Procopiou Black Sea Region, including the great response and acceptance by the local shipping community. This has been VLOCs and ULCCs. In the same spirit, he discussed the technique materialized by record number of transfer of class ships & new applied by BV to study the alignment of shafting taking into acbuildings entrusted to Bureau Veritas. count the deformations of the Engine Room Jean-François Segretain presented the technical developments Dr. John Kokarakis then discussed the challenges associated within Bureau Veritas focusing on containership safety introwith the selection and installation of Ballast Water Treatment ducing innovative new rules which account for actual loads as Systems. Given the large number of required retrofits, the short opposed to the more conservative North Atlantic conditions. Butime available and the extended scope of class approval, review reau Veritas is pioneering new techniques to study phenomena and approval of the design is a challenge by itself. The convenlike whipping and springing which are not fully understood or tion allows for application of advanced tools like 3-d laser scanconsidered in the design of “flexibleâ€? slender vessels like Lakers, ning and flow cytometry. It is necessary to study all available sys-

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 43

EVENTS tems in great detail in order to be able to select the most suitable one. On the other hand caution should be exercised to preserve coatings and the targets of reduced CO2 emissions. Global and local currents might render the treatment process meaningless.

Special guest of the event was the Managing Director of The Republic of the Marshall Islands – International Registries Inc., Theofilos K. Xenakoudis.

1st row (l to r) V. Terzis, M. Lavidas, G. Dalacouras, G. Procopiou, K. Therapioti, P. Donche-Gay, D. Michaud-Daniel, All participants to the CommitG. Mylonas, V. Restis, D. Manos, L.A. Chahalis tee meeting concluded the day 2nd row, (l to r) K. Kokkalas, L. Polemis, D. Sficas, D. Condylis, C. Diamantis, A. Angelopoulos, Capt. P. Tsakos, with a lunch at the “Kohylia” E. Gotsis, S. Zolotas, G. Perantzakis, Dr. J. Kokarakis, P. Boisson Restaurant of the Grand Resort 3rd row (l to r) N. Balalis, P. Palaiologou, M. Sterghiou, A. Polemis, A. Kondilis, J.F. Segretain, D. Bouttier, T. Xenakoudis, P. Dragnis, M. Scufalos, T. Savvas Lagonissi.

Interna onal Chamber of Shipping meets in Cyprus

(l to r) Thomas A. Kazakos, Director General, Cyprus Shipping Chamber, The First Lady, Andri Anastasiades, H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and Capt. Eugen Adami, President, Cyprus Shipping Chamber

The Cyprus Shipping Chamber, on the occasion of its 25th Year Anniversary, hosted this year’s Annual General Meeting of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which was held with great success on 10-12 June 2014, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol.

On 10 June, and using the rare opportunity of the International Shipping community gathering in Cyprus, the Cyprus Maritime Administration, in cooperation with the ICS and the

44 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

Cyprus Shipping Chamber, organised a Shipping Ministers Summit from different countries, which focused on the Sustainable Development of International Shipping.

During the same evening, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber organised an “Official Gala Dinner” at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, which was placed under the auspices and was attended and addressed by H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

Guests also included foreign Shipping Ministers, ICS Members, Senior Cyprus State Officials such as Ministers, Members of Parliament and Business Associates, as well as the Members of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber.

The business part of the Annual General Meeting was held on 11-12 June with the meeting of the ICS Board of Directors during which, current issues affecting International Shipping were discussed, such as the challenges associated with the need for ships trading to Emission Control Areas, in North America and Europe, to switch to low sulphur fuel, and the serious implementation problems that will be created by the eventual entry

EVENTS into force of the IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.

The organisation of this very important three-days International Shipping meetings and events by the Cyprus Shipping

Chamber shows the high recognition it enjoys among the International Shipping community, and at the same time it offered an important opportunity to promote Cyprus Shipping internationally.

Masamichi Morooka, President, International Chamber of Shipping

The Presidencies of the International Chamber of Shipping and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber

History in Hamburg: DNV GL celebrates twin Milestones Some 650 dignitaries, customers and industry stakeholders joined DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and one of the world’s leading risk and sustainability service providers, at a night to remember in Hamburg.

Held at the historic Fischauktionshalle Halle, the event celebrated the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Det Norske Veritas and the first year of operation of the newly formed DNV GL Group.

The evening looked to both the past and the future of the company, celebrating both DNV GL’s long history and its continued drive to make a positive impact on the world through innovation. DNV GL Group CEO Henrik O. Madsen, reflected on this when focusing on the organisation’s ambitious new report, “A Safe and Sustainable Future”.

“Our ambition has been to explore where we can leverage our history and expertise to translate our vision into impact.

Through these projects we take a Broader View on society. (l to r) Michael Behrendt (v. l.), Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag Lloyd We sincerely hope that our work can inspire and promote AG, Olaf Scholz, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and new and radical forms of collaboration between authorities, Henrik O. Madsen, President and CEO of the DNV GL Group civil society, academia and business.”

Over the course of the evening many important industry and years of operational experience and technical know-how. This political figures paid tribute to the sustained positive impact of means that the important tasks for the development of the the DNV GL. Olaf Scholz, the First Mayor and President of the technical solutions needed for the future can be tackled in HamFree and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, spoke of the positive imburg with even greater determination. All in all, the DNV GL pact of the merger, noting: “The city of Hamburg acknowledges Group in Hamburg is an important partner to the senate when that a major global player has been created by this successful fuit comes to developing and pursuing a holistic economic stratsion, one which is a substantial pillar in the maritime community egy for strengthening and further developing the maritime in Hamburg. Together, DNV and GL have nearly three hundred economy.”

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 45

EVENTS Michael Behrendt, Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG, focussed in his speech on the qualities that enabled DNV GL to have continued success for so long: “This mixture of courage and business consideration, of a will to innovate, of corporate responsibility and collective values and convictions within the company characterise the centennial champions who have managed to be

successful for over a century and a half.

It is values that belong to the DNA of a centennial company like yours – values that you cannot buy for all the money in the world. But above all, values that need to be cared for.” Following his speech DNV GL paid tribute to Mr Behrendt’s own long and illustrious career of success, as he was due to celebrate his retirement as Chairman the following evening.

Henrik O. Madsen speaks to the guests

Dignitaries & top industry figures celebrate double milestone To mark the 150th anniversary of the Foundation Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and the one year anniversary of its merger with Germanischer Lloyd (GL), DNV GL hosted a prestigious event in Oslo, with dignitaries, government officials and customers present.

The event started at the Oslo Opera House, followed by an evening dinner at DNV GL’s headquarters in Høvik in the presence of 1000 guests.

The event was opened by Henrik O. Madsen, President & CEO of the DNV GL Group.

“Today we celebrate, but it is also a moment to reflect and marks a new era of the merged company DNV GL, which is far thank our partners and friends all over the world, who have more than a maritime company. It is a leading organization in been on the long journey together many of the industries it serves, and is an with us. Without their support we example for the nation. Thank you for would not be where we are today,” your important contribution to the Norsaid Madsen and added, “As we move wegian society.” forward, we will leverage on the expeChairman of the DNV GL Board Leifrience, capabilities and collaborations Arne Langøy commented, “It’s a very developed over the years and be special occasion. We’re celebrating the guided and defined by our purpose of 150th anniversary of the formation of safeguarding life, property and the enDNV and the first anniversary of the DNV vironment and our vision to have a GL Group. Building trust has been at the global impact for a safe and sustainheart of this company over the years. able future.”

Trust is our business rationale. As society In her remarks at the dinner event, pushes for a safe and sustainable future, Erna Solberg, the Norwegian Prime there is a need for institutions like DNV Minister said “Today we’re celebratGL – institutions that develop recognized ing a proud history of safety and susstandards and build trust. Created from tainability. DNV has played a critical two highly respected companies with role in the development of key Norparallel histories spanning 150 years, wegian industries, and is particularly (l to r) Chairman of the DNV GL Board Leif-Arne Langøy, DNV GL now provides an even broader well known for its work in the ship- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, and DNV GL view, enabling customers to make the ping industry. And this celebration also President and CEO Henrik O. Madsen arrive at the party world safer, smarter and greener.”

46 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

EVENTS

First German flagged vessel joins ClassNK Register Leading classification society ClassNK, recently announced that it has registered its first German-flagged vessel, as well as earned expanded authorization from the German flag administration for the classification of German flagged vessels.

The announcement was made at a ceremony to mark the successful transfer of the vessel M.V. BREMER FORTUNA to the ClassNK Register held at Hamburg’s HafenKlub on 10 June 2014. The transfer of the vessel, a 6,668 GT multi-purpose cargo ship (MPP) owned by Kollmar-based Rörd Braren Breederungs GmbH & Co. KG, marks the first time that ClassNK will provide classification services for a German-flagged vessel, a major achievement for the classification society which has been rapidly expanding its services in Germany.

During the ceremony, Capt. Rörd Braren, Managing Partner of Rörd Braren Breederungs GmbH & Co KG was joined by ClassNK Chairman & President Noboru Ueda in celebrating the new partnership.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ueda said that: “ClassNK is deeply honored to be chosen to provide classification services for the M.V. Bremer Fortuna”, and gave assurances that ClassNK would put full resources into the safe, secure, and effective operations of the vessel. The registration of the vessel marks an important step forward for ClassNK and its growth in Germany, which has seen more than 170 German-owned newbuildings and existing vessels apply for registration with the classification society since it opened its Survey Operations Headquarters in Hamburg at the end of 2011.

In addition to the registration of its first German flagged vessel, ClassNK also announced that it had earned expanded authorization from the German government to carry out surveys and audits for German

Capt. Rord Braren, Managing Partner of Rörd Braren Breederungs GmbH & Co KG (left) with Noboru Ueda, Chairman and President of ClassNK

flagged vessels. ClassNK initially earned authorization to classify German flagged vessels and issue statutory certificates on behalf of the German government in February 2013. This authorization has now been further expanded to included audits and certification for the ISPS Code, a key part of the SOLAS convention related to ship security.

Representatives from the Government of Germany, Jörg Kaufmann, Head of Department Maritime Shipping and Dr. Liliane Rossbach, Head of Section Prevention of Threats to Maritime Security also joined the ceremony to present ClassNK with official recognition of the authorization. Mr. Ueda thanked Mr. Kaufmann and Dr. Rossbach and said: “I would like to assure you that ClassNK will keep on providing the best quality services and continue contributing to the German maritime industry.”

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 47

SHIPFINANCE

Finance and company size in Greek shipping

by Professor John Tzoannos, Former Secretary General, Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean

Since the eruption of the world financial crisis in 2008 the dominant role of traditional bank lending in Greek shipping has sustained a noteworthy erosion.

This trend is well documented by Petrofin Bank Research which has shown that again in 2013 there was an overall reduction of the total banking sector's (both foreign and Greek banks) outstanding Greek shipping portfolio by 6.5 percent.

From the end of 2008 to the end of 2013 the reduction in the value of this portfolio amounted to 11.73 billion US dollars or 16 percent.

The reduction in the total value of outstanding loans by Greek banks has been more pronounced, by 36 percent over the same period.

This portfolio overwhelmingly belongs to European banks which since the 2008 crisis have been under pressure to reduce their exposure to the maritime sector.

Before recovering from the shock of the Lehman Brothers collapse, these banks had to deal with situations of unusual capital rationing emanating from the European sovereign debt problem, lack of liquidity and the related uncertainties on the future of the Eurozone.

Following the rescue operations with taxpayers’ and depositors’ money, the European banking sector has become increasingly wary of providing loans to shipping which is perceived as a high-risk sector.

Furthermore, the banks are obliged to conform to the stringent capital, minimum leverage ratio and liquidity requirements imposed by the Basel III capital accord rules.

In compliance with these rules the banks are subject to a higher cost of capital when providing loans to highly cyclical sectors like shipping, compared to other more ‘stable sectors’, which they then pass to the borrower, and have thus become more selective of their customers.

It should also be borne in mind, that because of the highly volatile nature of ship values, the use of this asset as a collateral for the purpose of reducing the risk premia on the pricing of the loan has been undermined in the context of the sophisticated Basel III methodologies.

It is not surprising therefore, that we are witnessing a partial

48 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

or complete withdrawal of European banks from Greek ship finance.

This trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future given EU banking union rules and the stress tests on the banks regarding their capital adequacy.

There is of course an increasing presence of Chinese banks linked to new shipbuilding orders placed at Chinese yards, but this has not been sufficient to fill the gap at a time that the Greek-owned fleet continues to grow both in capacity and value.

Even before the time that capital rationing on the part of its traditional source of finance became of major concern, a number of Greek ship owners started exploring other venues, most notably IPOs through the primary markets of major stock exchanges, such as NASDAQ and NYSE. By mid 2007, 23 Greek ocean-going ship-owning companies were publicly listed in major exchanges. More than half of the number of shipping firms listed in American stock exchanges are linked to Greek interest.

As a result of this switch to alternative sources of finance, the Greek shipping industry has become more sophisticated in its human capital regarding the operation of financial markets and their instruments.

In parallel, going public has led to a strategic change from the culture of privacy and organizational structure of the traditional family firm to one of great transparency and the introduction of strict corporate governance rules and procedures in compliance with stock market listing standards and the legislation in force aiming at the protection of the investors’ interests.

It is clear that transparency has not been a deterrent for Greek ship owners seeking alternative sources of capital by going public.

However, raising funds by going public is not a venue open to small-sized firms given the substantial minimum capital requirements by big institutional investors.

The minimum capital threshold has led in many cases to mergers of private companies before going public.

IPOs are currently being overshadowed in shipping media coverage by an increasing presence of private equity investors.

Their major interest is in situations of financial distress, given the current freight market conditions, with the prospect of high returns in the future.

These investors are not very knowledgeable of the shipping business and as a rule rely on the existing owner to run the operation with the prospect in mind of a profitable exit through an IPO at a second stage.

In fact the involvement of private equity is in some cases linked to mergers between ship-owning companies with the objective of creating large enough fleets to attract the interest

SHIPFINANCE of stock market participants.

Clearly, this alternative source of capital is not open to small sized ship-owning enterprises.

Although the evidence is only anecdotal on the deals concluded there are significant amounts involved.

The above trends both in traditional bank finance and the new sources of capital are putting the small owners at a significant comparative disadvantage in terms of their ability to renew their fleet and keep abreast with technological developments and international environmental requirements.

This in turn increases the pressure for mergers with owners not willing to follow this path and lacking internal funds, being forced to leave the shipping industry entirely.

It is also difficult to see how the tradition of successful startups of their own new enterprises by former seafarers utilizing their expertise will be able to continue.

The above financial pressures unavoidably lead to the concentration of Greek shipping in much bigger entities with a broader international capital base.

The increase in the degree of concentration is reflected in the fall of the number of Greek shipping companies in operation since 2008. According to Petrofin Research this number had fallen in 2013 to 690 from 758 in 2008.

Thus the traditional globalised nature of the Greek shipping sector in the provision of transport services is now matched by a much more internationally diversified capital structure.

This new state of affairs could possibly undermine the links between the Greek national economy and the Greek shipping industry, if proper care is not given, especially by the state, not only to preserve, but also enhance the international competitiveness of the maritime cluster created over the last fifty years in Piraeus and the broader Attica region.

It should be borne in mind that institutional investors are particularly sensitive to abrupt changes in the perceived risk-return profile of the operations they finance which are linked to the location of the activity they finance, such as the cost of compliance with rules and regulations.

Greek ship owners have a proven ability to deal successfully through their versatility with the challenges posed by international developments regarding both, maritime transport as such and the factors of production they employ.

However, they cannot afford to be put at a competitive disadvantage in the performance measurements by international financial investors as a result of a climate of uncertainty in their home base.

Let us hope that the recently unanimously adopted Athens Declaration on the revised EU maritime policy, following successful work by the Greek Presidency of the Council, will give the green light for positive action at national level.

Special attention must also be paid to the continued presence of Greek banks in shipping finance following their recapitalizations.

The current forces in ship finance What to look for in ship finance joint ventures

by Yiannis Timagenis LLM mult. (London, Athens), MCIArb Partner, Timagenis Law Firm

Although the recent global crisis began in mid-2008, the shipping industry did not begin to give an impression of improvement until 2013, with varying rates of success in each sub-sector. This trend was clearly visible until the end of 2013 and up to the first quarter of 2014, when charter rates and vessel prices began to weaken again significantly (particularly during the second quarter of 2014). Nevertheless, for most of last year the shipping industry overall and the dry bulk sector in particular saw a notable increase in ship prices and charter rates.

Some signs of recovery were visible in the new build orders, as well as in the sale and purchase of secondhand tonnage, in which Greek owners have invested consistently during last year. The question of funding arises as a result of this increase and this article briefly outlines the prevailing forces in various aspects of ship finance.

European Banks The traditional ship finance providers, the European banking institutions, are no longer willing to put up the capital. Perhaps these banks do not share the owners' confidence in the market’s prospects. Indeed, taking into account the latest numbers of the market (mid June 2014), the rates of most of the shipping sectors remain heavily depressed (albeit not as low as during 20082009). Furthermore, there is a general tendency in the European banking sector to reduce their exposure to shipping and, in some cases, withdraw from ship finance altogether. To top things off, stricter EU regulation (notably Basel III) has imposed strict liquidity and capital ratios on EU banks. In a scramble for liquidity, many European banks have tried either to assist their clients to recover (this does not always have a happy ending) or sought to sell their existing (riskier) portfolios.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 49

SHIPFINANCE So the question remains, where does the liquidity come from? The answer is threefold.

Owner’s own equity First, the owners themselves funded a number of purchases and new orders. This is especially true for ship owners who carefully managed their finances during the shipping boom.

Asian Banks Second, unlike European banks, Asian (primarily Chinese) banks are increasing their ship financing activities. Quite apart from the fact that Chinese banks provide owners, especially Greek owners, with pre-delivery financing for new builds constructed in Chinese yards, there are other factors that contribute to the closer ties between the ship owners and China. For instance, during the recent visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Greece, several agreements and memoranda of agreement were signed. However, this form of lending remains generally restricted to shipbuilding orders.

The structure of the initial documentation phase will depend, to a large extent, on the negotiating power of each party. When the parties have uneven negotiating leverage, the weaker party should focus on clarifying their minority rights and the strongest party should seek clear provisions concerned with control of the joint venture. The most difficult structures, however, are those where both parties have equal strength or decide to participate on a 50/50 basis. In such a case, the most important issues that the parties must deal with are what to do in cases of deadlock and procedures for exiting. Parties will have to carefully consider how a deadlock may arise (i.e. on which issues), how a deadlock issue should be resolved (e.g. chairman’s casting vote, reference to independent directors, reference to arbitration, reference to mediation, reference to the principals of the joint venture), and what are the options if a deadlock cannot be resolved. In most cases this would mean the end of the joint venture, so the parties must have detailed and clear “divorce” or termination provisions. The foregoing possibilities are another reason why clear exit provisions from the outset should be agreed upon.

Limitations of Funding by Private Equity funds In any event, funding from Private Equity funds has limitations.

US Private Equity funds seek high returns and, therefore, they would not target small or medium sized owners. They seek to partner up with larger companies, usually US listed, with which they are familiar with their ways of operating. So, the funding gap left by the withdrawal of traditional ship finance banks from the market cannot be covered by US Private Equity funds, if the trend continues.

Private Equity Funds Finally, a third source of funding, which is increasingly prevalent, is US Private Equity funds in the form of distressed debt acquisition and, most commonly, by forming joint ventures.

Joint Venture Structure A joint venture is a form of partnership or cooperation to achieve a common goal. Therefore, in theory, there should be no competing forces, as both partners have a common goal i.e. the well-being of their joint venture. However, this is far from what might happen in practice, especially if things go wrong. The reason is simple: a Private Equity fund is interested in making a high return on investment over a specified time frame, whereas an owner is interested in a more long term operation of the ship.

This slight divergence of approaches could create trouble down the line and, in order to avoid things going wrong (to the fullest extent possible), both a clear commercial understanding and proper documentation should be in place from the outset. A multi-page analysis would be required to present all potential problems that a JV partner should be aware of. However, the basics are simple: all the commercial aspects of the deal should be structured in writing from the commencement of negotiations.

This can be accomplished with a very simple document such as a heads of terms, a letter of intent or a memorandum of understanding that should be signed as soon as practicable. This document can then be used as a roadmap for the next steps and will save significant time and money during the documentation phase.

50 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

Conclusion - Has demand for more tonnage really increased?

From a funding perspective, there are no competing forces in the industry (at least not in most respects): European banks are reluctant to provide new financing but they assist their clients to recover or they sell their portfolios and, under no circumstances, do they fund new builds, Asian banks are focused on new builds, and Private Equity funds seek to partner up or take over larger shipping companies (usually listed).

All of the above, coupled with the fact that, despite the increased appetite of owners for more tonnage, there is absolutely no indication that there is (or will be) increased demand in the market (the rates are again depressed save probably for the LNG and LPG sectors for which, however, the rates currently are also slightly on the downturn) and the market has yet to recover from and catch up to the huge overbook of new builds that was created about 8-10 years ago. We would like to remain hopeful that demand will increase and markets will fully recover in the not too distant future and so we must be there when it happens. We would also like to be hopeful that the new alliances and joint venture partnerships will be successful despite the uncertainty of the times. However, as the well-known quote says, “hope is not a strategy” and certainly in these turbulent times, as far as joint ventures in ship finance related transactions are concerned, it is better for all parties involved to safeguard their position by commercially clear arrangements being properly documented as early as possible.

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Greece- China: Investments and Perspec ves Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, paid a three-day visit to Greece on June 21, with a visit to Crete – along with Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras – as the two leaders talked about closer business and cultural ties.

at Piraeus is another goal, he said.

Marine transport and shipbuilding reportedly topped the agenda of talks at a lunch given by President, Karolos Papoulias, in Li’s honor and attended by Samaras as well as several key cab-

Some 19 deals worth nearly $5 billion were signed and one of the highlights was a tour of the port of Piraeus, now mostly run by the Chinese company Cosco, which wants to build its stake in the operations to 67 percent as China expands its presence across the country in ports and infrastructure.

Le said he sees Piraeus as “China’s gateway to Europe”. In shirt sleeves and tieless, the two cited the port’s potential. Li described it as “the pearl in the Mediterranean” and said he was keen to work with the Greeks to make it “the most competitive port in the world”.

After the business was concluded, Samaras and Li moved more toward focusing on other ties, including tourism, and to support each other’s stance on world issues.

China said it backed a UN-mediated settlement to reunify Cyprus, divided since an unlawful 1974 invasion by Turkey, while Greece said it would support Chinese investment efforts with the European Union.

Samaras and Li also agreed to help each other in the financing, investment and trade sectors and to correct trade imbalances, with Greece seeing keen interest from the Chinese in its products and as more Chinese flock to Greece as tourists and for island weddings.

China is also interested in scooping up state enterprises in a lagging privatization program, citing the country’s archaic and money-bleeding railway system that could be used to transport goods to the rest of Europe, which has far superior railroads and lines.

Li noted that the use of Piraeus as a hub had already reduced the time it takes to transport Chinese exports to the EU by between seven to 11 days. The development of the shipyard zone

inet members including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Merchant Marine Minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Papoulias, who met with Li separately, called him “a great friend of Greece”.

Li and Samaras also visited the Acropolis and Athens’s National Archaeological Museum, with Li calling it “wonderful”, after comparing the country’s ancient and famed cultures.

Li asked questions to the museum’s Alternate Director George Kakavas regarding the Greeks’ know-how in the processing of plant colors. The brief visit ended with a tour of the hall with the exhibit on the Antikythera Shipwreck and mechanism, the Athens News Agency reported.

Before departing, the prime minister and his wife received commemorative gifts from Samaras’ wife and the director of the National Archaeological Museum.

On Crete, where Samaras was to join him, Le was expected to reiterate Beijing’s interest in a new international airport near the port of Iraklio. Li arrived on the island late on June 20 and was due to also see the archaeological site of Knossos and the Iraklio Archaeological Museum, together with Samaras, to inaugurate a renovated wing.

The Chinese prime minister and his delegation were welcomed at the airport by Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Crete Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, Decentralised Administration Secretary General Grigoris Rokadakis, Iraklio Mayor Yiannis Kourakis and deputies. The Chinese delegation is staying in Hersonissos.

52 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

The Chinese “Shipbuilding Dragon” in Athens Ship financing dominated the deals which were signed during

TOPIC

the recent three-day visit to Greece by Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang. Of the $5.3 billion worth of deals signed, almost $3 billion were about ship financing arrangements between Chinese banks and Greek ship owners. The biggest one was between Costantakopoulos-owned Costamare Inc., which inked a ship financing agreement with China Development Bank worth $1.5 billion for the construction of five newbuilding container ships.

•Libra’s George Logothetis agreed with ICBC Financial Leasing Company for a $160 million deal to sale and lease back a total of six bulkers. An additional $300 million will be provided for the construction of newbuildings in Chinese shipyards.

•Diana Shipping Inc. signed an MOY with ICBC, regarding the potential of agreeing to futher ship financing agreements. Diana is looking to acquire dry bulk newbuildings from China, as well as investing outside of China, but with the participation of Chinese business interests. The deal signed is potentially worth up to $200 million.

•Thenamaris also was active. The company signed a shipping loan agreement with Export-Import Bank of China, worth $64 million, while an additional $300 million was agreed between the two parties, in terms of providing credit lines to the Hellenic shipowner.

•Veritas Ship Management agreed with China National AeroTechnology Corp. Shanghai Ltd. on the construction of eight 64,000 dwt bulk carriers in Taizhou Kouan of China. The value of the agreement is at $215 million.

•Ocean Bulk Shipping (Petros Pappas) signed a ship financing deal with Export-Import Bank for $57 million. The agreement is for two dry bulk newbuildings, which are currently under construction in Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Besides those deals, the Ministry of Shipping of Greece, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis also signed a series of formal agreements with China’s delegation. One of the most important was with China Development Bank, which will now offer financial assistance not only to major ship owners, but also small and medium sized shipping companies, which are looking to invest in newbuildings built in China’s shipyards. Also, under the terms of the agreement, China Development Bank will examine the establishment of a permanent office in Piraeus. Moreover, the Ministry signed an additional agreement with the China Classification Society, under which the latter will offer its services to Greek-flagged ships, which are either built in China, or docking at Chinese ports.

It’s also worth noting that as per the data released by the Hel-

lenic Ministry of Shipping, in 2013, China held the first place in the world production with the Greek ship owners being second in the Chinese shipyards clientele (after the Chinese). Greek shipping companies placed orders for 141 vessels with Chinese shipyards, with 6,869,373 gt total capacity and 5.02 mln tones compensated gross tones (CGT) which indicates China΄s interest to keep and increase its privileged relation with the Greek shipping.

Port of Piraeus: China’s gateway to Europe On the second day of the three-day business-oriented visit to Greece, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited the port of Piraeus, where Chinese shipping giant Cosco controls two of the three container terminals, with his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras. Ahead of the visit, Li underlined China’s interest in expanding its presence at the country’s main port as Cosco is highly interested in the acquisition of a 67 percent stake in the Piraeus Port Authority, one of several state-controlled assets Greece has pledged to privatize. Li stressed that cooperation between China and Greece is “mutually beneficial” while Samaras declared that Greece could become “China’s gateway to Europe, and the start of a European trade corridor between Europe and the Far East.

Antonis Samaras, the Greek prime minister, echoed Mr. Li’s remarks on Friday as the two men inaugurated a 17km rail link from a Chinese-controlled container operation at Piraeus port to the main line connecting Greece with the Balkans and central Europe. Greece can become the main European entry point for China thanks to our strategic location and our strong shipping industry”, Mr. Samaras said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Piraeus could become one of the world’s “most competitive” ports if China shipper COSCO is able to fulfil its investment plan for the area. “We hope to turn Piraeus…into one of the most competitive ports of the world”, Li said. Cosco’s rail freight service will transport containers of electronic equipment to central Europe for HewlettPackard of the US, China’s Huawei and other international groups, the company said. OLP’s privatisation is due to be completed this year, but faces delays since the Greek government in February agreed to suspend a guaranteed payment by Cosco under the concession terms in return for a €230m investment to expand its terminal and create 700 jobs. The deal is under scrutiny by EU competition regulators because Cosco could have abused its position at Piraeus as the main handler of container traffic. OLP, which has a smaller terminal, is the only other operator at the port.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 53

REPORTAGE

Greece - Cyprus

Sailing in tandem on shipping matters close cooperation on matThe executive committee ters related to maritime of the Cyprus Union of policy”, stressed Mr VarvitShipowners held a meeting siotis. with the Minister of Marine and Aegean, Miltiadis Particular reference was Varvitsiotis, during the inmade to the significance of ternational Posidonia shipthe recent unanimous ping exhibition. Also in atadoption of the “Declaratendance was the Cyprus tion of Athens”, at the InMinister of Communicaformal Ministerial Meeting tions and Works, Marios of the EU member states Miltiadis Varvitsiotis with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners Demetriades. and EEA states on maritime During the discussion, which took place in an excellent issues. “With this decision, we redefined European climate, the two ministers and institutional represen- maritime policy until 2020”, said the Minister for Matatives of the ship owners, had the opportunity to reaf- rine and Aegean, and added, “We have now set the imfirm their agreement on issues of bilateral maritime co- portance of shipping and the need to maintain its comoperation between the two countries, as well as on petitiveness, high on the European agenda. I believed maritime issues of mutual interest. from the beginning that we had to lay the foundations “The consistency that we see today in our approach for better cooperation with the IMO, in order to avoid to shipping issues, is not a recent development. It is the the adoption of regional policies in Europe, which do result of all the contact we have had and the initiatives not assist competition in a highly international and we have taken in previous months. It has been some competitive environment, such as shipping”, concluded time since Greece, Cyprus and Malta developed their Mr Varvitsiotis.

Burntwood’s Ambassadors for ancient Greek

Ten lucky students visit Athens to be briefed for their new role!

Burntwood School in Wandsworth has a long-standing tradition of offering Latin and Classical Civilisation to its students. With the help of a grant from the charity Classics for All Ancient Greek has also recently been introduced at the School.

The subject is attracting ever increasing numbers of students from Years 7 to 13, eager to find out more about the rich linguistic and cultural legacy of the Ancient Greeks.

The Greek Ambassador in London, Konstantinos Bikas, was delighted to hear that Burntwood students are studying Ancient Greek and approached school to find out if the students would take on the role of ambassadors for the subject and visit schools, both local and further afield, to tell other students why studying Ancient Greek is so worthwhile.

54 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

To enable students to become more familiar with their brief, the Ambassador, together with the Greek Ministry of Tourism, arranged for ten lucky Burntwood students to visit Athens during half term as guests of Greece. The trip (26 – 28 May) included a guided tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, visits to the Ancient Agora and the Cycladic Museum and a meeting at the British Embassy in Athens with British Ambassador, John Kittmer, to talk about their plans to promote Ancient Greek to students in the UK. The trip was a truly amazing experience and the young Ambassadors are now hard at work on a film in which they explain that learning Ancient Greek is both great fun and incredibly useful, as studying the language and civilisation of Ancient Greece helps us to understand how we live now.

REPORTAGE

Spetses Classic Yacht Race 2014: Prize awards Traditional boats and boatyards were especially honoured during the Classic Yacht Race, held in Spetses from 19 to 22 June 2014.

Former King Constantine presented an award, introduced this year, to Manolis Psarros and his boatyard, for contributions to the development and preservation of traditional boatbuilding. Manolis Psarros is honorary chairman of the board of the Traditional Boat Association of Greece.

Stratis Andreadis, also a member of the Association and winner of the Aegean Classic Schooner Class with his “trehandiri”, Stratis, stole the show. When he was awarded the cup, he gave the credit for the performance of his boat to its builder, Dinos Korakis, and offered him the cup. This gracious gesture, applauded by all, was the best moment of the awards night.

The Association had already awarded the “Themistokles” prize to Mr Korakis for his contribution to boatbuilding skills at its forum, which was held on 24 February 2014 at the Yacht Club of Greece.

Other members of the Traditional Boat Association, who won prizes were: Manolis Pantelis (Christina) Christina Skylla (Christina) Nicolaos Riginos (Phaneromeni) Yannis Kallias (Cassiopeia) Nikolaos Karakostas (Alkmini)

King Constantine, Em. Psarros and Od. Eskitzoglou

Str. Andreadis, D. Korakis and N. Lambadarios

Petros Pappas becomes “all powerful” Petros Pappas is now the “chosen one” of US investment fund Oaktree Capital Management, based in Los Angeles.

After the not-so-polite discontinuation of the Americans’ collaboration with the Panayotides family, the ship owner and AEK supporter is now the partner par excellence of the “ambitious but realistic” fund.

Creator of the largest listed dry-bulk company through the merger of the listed Star Bulk with his private company Oceanbulk, in partnership with Oaktree, Mr Pappas is currently at the top of his chosen field.

The new company is worth one billion dollars, with 54,104,000 shares valued at 12.07 dollars each.

Oaktree, now the largest private investor in shipping, controls 61.3 percent of the new company and Mr Pappas 12.5 percent.

Star Bulk is taking control of 15 active vessels and 26 Oceanbulk vessels that are under construction.

Mr Pappas is the CEO and Spyros Capralos non-executive chair-

man of the new company, which controls 69 ships. Of these, 32 are in operation and 37 in the shipbuilding program.

Oaktree has invested in a total of four cargo ship companies: Excel Maritime, Star Bulk, Eagle Bulk and the Ocean Bulk consortium. Mr Pappas undertook the commercial management of Excel’s 36 freighters through his company Interchart Shipping Inc. a month ago, after the departure of Excel’s founder Gabriel “Villy” Panayotides.

It should be noted that in 2012, Petros Pappas collaborated with Oaktree Capital, with a view to ordering new ships worth 1.36 billion dollars.

The consortium has a shipbuilding program underway for ten Capesize vessels, ten Ultramax, and one Kamsarmax, worth a total of 800 million dollars, at Chinese and Japanese shipyards, as well as six containerships with a capacity of 9,000 teu each, at a total cost of 500 million dollars, at a Korean shipyard.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 55

REPORTAGE

The results of European Cleanup Day 2014 in Greece It comes as no surprise that the findings of recent clean-up activities undertaken reveal yet again that cigarette ends, plastics and every kind of litter item related to recreational pursuits are at the top of the list of items collected! A positive outcome, however, was the keen enthusiasm with which young and old responded to HELMEPA’s call for participation in the European Cleanup Day across Greece, which took place for the first time this year on Saturday, 10 May. More than 5,000 volunteers organized 130 beach, underwater, riverbank, lake-side, forest, park and other natural area cleanup activities throughout the country. Covering a distance amounting to 70km, a total of 8 tons of litter was gathered, of which 2 tons (25%) constituted recyclable materials and so was taken to the appropriate Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation facilities for processing.

It was primarily children and youths, members of the “HELMEPA Junior” and “HELMEPA Cadets” Programs respectively, who made their dynamic “presence” most forcefully known, as they descended on the various activities organized.

The following groups also dominated the “frontline”; students and teachers from public and private schools, parents and

friends associations, University and Merchant Marine Academy students, HELMEPA member-companies, Embassies, Coast Guard and Local Authorites, environmental organizations, various associations, citizen initiatives, sailing clubs and divers.

The participation from the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Northern and Southern Aegean and Peloponnese regions, was also particularly robust.

Volunteers meticulously recorded the items of litter they collected on special Data Sheets, which HELMEPA provided. Useful

56 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

conclusions regarding the quantities, types and origins of litter that pollutes the environment arise from the analysis of these Data Sheets.

The top 10 litter items found (pcs) Cigarette ends Plastic bags Pieces of plastic < 2.5cm in length Plastic bottle caps Straws Plastic bottles Pieces of styrofoam < 2.5cm in length Aluminium soft drink cans Food packaging Plastic container lids Total

8,508 3,673 3,672 3,222 2,805 2,652 2,316 1,830 1,686 1,620 31,984

The presence of many plastic items in the top 10 is troubling.

More explicitly, more than half the litter items in the top 10 are plastics, which comprise a significant threat to living organisms.

The time taken for plastic litter items to dissolve in the environment ranges between 10 and 600 years, while once they have broken-up they continue their journey as microplastics and bioaccumulate in living organisms through the food chain, releasing the various chemical substances they contain.

It so seems that HELMEPA’s message is timeless! Let’s all therefore remember during this summer yet again “No more garbage, no more plastics on our Seas and Beaches!”

HELMEPA warmly congratulates all volunteers for their participation and thanks the local stakeholders, teachers, School Directorates and companies for their cooperation in implementing the various activities, as well as HE.R.R.Co. and the Marine Environment Protection Division of the Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean for their invaluable support.

All coordinators of the activities and the students who took part were awarded a Commemorative Certificate of Participation

by HELMEPA.

NEWS DIGEST

WORLD ROUNDUP

V.Ships and Anglo-Eastern create a $1 billion buying group Leading ship managers V.Ships and Anglo-Eastern are to consolidate their purchasing activities through the well- established MARCAS, Marine Contracting Association, creating a $1 billion buying group aimed at generating further savings for owners in challenging markets.

Established in 1999, MARCAS today has a membership of owners and managers responsible for operating some 1200 ships.

With the V.Ships, Anglo- Eastern consolidation, which is scheduled to go live from the beginning of June, MARCAS will be contracting for close to 1700 vessels, representing the major buying group for the maritime industry.

MARCAS negotiates and signs contracts with suppliers worldwide ‘as agent on behalf of members’ all of whom retain management and control of their purchasing, logistics and invoicing.

As members of MARCAS deal direct with their suppliers, benefiting from the global frame contracts arranged by MARCAS, there will be no employee changes within the Anglo-Eastern or V.Ships organisations.

Peter Cremers, Managing Director of Anglo-Eastern says “We have a duty to our clients to explore any partnerships which can deliver savings; these are paramount for our owners in these very tough markets”.

Bob Bishop, Executive Director of V.Group, comments, “V.Ships

has been active in MARCAS since the beginning and it has proved its worth over the past 15 years, aggregating purchase volumes to obtain maximum value goods and services. Partnering with another of the world’s leading managers is a major step for owners and for suppliers who can trust in continuity of supply and production”.

Elliot Gow, Group Director of V.Ships Ship Supply Chain and responsible for MARCAS, states “The aggregated volume and economies of scale will give both members and suppliers of MARCAS a great opportunity to achieve more cost effective solutions”.

Ivan Blazina, Group Purchasing Director of Anglo Eastern comments that there are only winners here. “Having now talked with a large number of existing and new suppliers we can confirm the additional advantages of higher volumes leading to lower prices for owners and a more secure environment for suppliers”.

All owners and managers who are members of MARCAS continue to operate their separate organisations, pursuing their own strategic development and promoting their competitive advantage.

Kappel propeller designs ordered for mul ple bulk carrier newbuildings Lemissoler Navigation Co. Ltd., the Cyprus-based owner and operator, has selected the fuel-efficient MAN Alpha Kappel propeller design for a new series of 8 × 58,500 DWT bulk carriers planned for delivery during 2015 and 2016.

The 6.8-metre, slow-running, four-bladed Kappel fixed-pitch propellers will be tailored to the SDARI-designed bulk carriers and a drivetrain powered by an MAN B&W 5S60MEC engine, economy-rated at 8,050 kW and 89 r/min. The new Lemissoler vessels will be characterised by trendsetting technology and a green operational profile that deliver an optimised fuel consumption and minimal emissions.

Thomas Leander, Senior Manager of Propeller & Aft Ship, MAN Diesel &

Turbo expressed his satisfaction with the new Kappel propeller order: “The cooperation and optimisation process with the owners and SDARI (Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute) has been excellent, especially in terms of developing the fully optimised main-engine, propeller, shafting and aftship layout. Furthermore, this Kappel order gives MAN Alpha propellers a strong foothold within the medium- to largesized bulker segment”.

The eight vessels will be built by New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. of the New Century Shipbuilding Group, Jiangsu Province, China. The first four newbuildings will be classified

by Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the remaining ones by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 57

NEWS DIGEST

WORLD ROUNDUP

New state of the art DP3 DSV for TOISA Sealion Shipping Ltd, on behalf of Toisa Limited, recently announced that an order has been placed with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (ZPMC) for a multi-purpose 24 man, twin bell, NORSOK capable Saturation Diving Support/Offshore Construction Vessel (DSV/OCV), to be delivered in early 2017. The vessel design is from Sawicon AS, customised to the requirements of Sealion/Toisa and will produce a vessel of impressive capabilities and flexibility. The ZPMC yard, chosen to build the new vessel, has a proven track record of building complex structures and vessels and has a long history of working with international clients requiring a high level of technical and commercial expertise.

The new Multipurpose DSV is built around a fully automated DRASS saturation dive system. A 24 man, 300MSW, twin bell system which has been designed to provide NORSOK U100 capability, achieving the highest levels of diver safety and comfort.

The provision of two hyperbaric lifeboats and a main deck mounted emergency bell mate trunk, together with other inherent features, prioritize diver safety to the highest level and allow maximum twin bell operation at depth. The vessel is also fitted with a three diver Nitrox/air diving system designed for hoop diving (35m outreach), incorporating a triple drum winch for hose deployment and a designated tooling A-frame.

The vessel will have two offshore, active-heave compensated, knuckle boom cranes fitted. A 400 tonne crane with a depth capability of 3,000 metres single fall, and an auxiliary crane with a capacity of 25 tonne and a single fall depth capability of 600 metres. There will be an extensive working deck area of 1,850m2 and, in addition to the dive system moonpools, a large working moonpool of 7.20 x 7.20 metres would enable deployment of flexible pipe via client-supplied VLS, or similar. With a minimum deck strength of 15t/m2 and specific areas strengthened to take 50t/m2, carriage and deployment of heavy equipment and special project related machinery, is facilitated. There will be two ROV Hangars designed to accommodate large work class ROVs for overside launch. All the necessary interfaces to service ROVs, as well as dedicated offices, control rooms, workshops and stores are included in the hangar design, producing an ergonomically arranged space for efficient operation of ROVs. The vessel is equipped for world-wide operations in the oil and gas sector on ultra-deep water projects. There are three stern azimuth thrusters giving propulsive power plus two tunnel thrusters and one retractable azimuth thruster forward, all powered by a diesel electric plant of six diesel alternators. These and all the other vessel’s machinery are controlled by a fully integrated vessel management and control system. The vessel is dynamically positioned (DP3) with the dual notation of DYN-

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POS AUTRO (DP3) and DYNPOS ER (Enhanced Reliability). DYNPOS ER is a major step forward in DP philosophy whereby the level of increased redundancy and monitoring inherent in this notation not only increases safety but will allow flexibility to operate the vessel in its most efficient mode.

There is accommodation sufficient for large numbers of contractors in addition to the charterer’s management team and ships staff. This vessel can accommodate up to a total of 200 persons in cabins and public spaces of the highest standard. The living accommodation can be configured to a Client’s requirement depending on overall number of persons onboard.

Main principles of the vessel are: LOA LBP Beam (moulded) Depth (moulded) Draught (design) Trial speed Deadweight approx.

Accommodation

145.90m 133.80m 27.00m 11.30m 7.50m 14.50 knots 9,450 tonnes 200 persons

Notations: DNV +1A1, SF, DYNPOS AUTRO and DYNPOS ER, EO, DK(+), CLEAN DESIGN, COMF-V(3) C(3), FIFI-II, NAUT-OSV (A), ICE-1C, DSV-SAT, DSV-SURFACE, HELDK-SH(CAA-N), BIS, SPS, SHIP SHAPED OFFSHORE SUPPORT UNIT, OFFSHORE SERVICE VESSEL +, BWM-T, RECYCLABLE, SUPPLY VESSEL (Hull Only), and in compliance with MODU Code and MOU Regulations.

This order demonstrates Toisa’s continuing commitment to the future of front-rank Saturation Diving/ Construction vessels and in so doing, will increase to four, the number of modern DSV’s with integral saturation dive systems, within the existing 27 strong, Toisa OSV fleet. It is recognised that the present world-wide dive support vessel fleet is an aging one and this state of the art vessel is designed to anticipate future market needs.

CLASS SOCIETIES

Bureau Veritas op mises container stowage and lashing Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has launched a voluntary notation for containerships which will allow more flexible container stowage depending on the ship’s loading condition.

The notation, LASHING WW, is based on ships being fitted with an approved lashing computer, which will allow computation of container stack weights and required lashing using acceleration levels corresponding to the ship’s loading condition and worldwide area of operation Jean-Francois Segretain, Marine Technical Director, Bureau Veritas, Marine and Offshore division, says, “Current lashing and stowage rules for deck containers rely on defined transverse accelerations which are not really accurate for large modern vessels along their whole length. Our research and data from real ships in service shows that accelerations in the midships section of container vessels are always closely correlated with the natural roll period of the ship and could often be much less than those set down in the present rules for lashing calculations.

“Using the right software fitted on board, and taking into ac-

count the ship’s area of operation (worldwide or mainly in North Atlantic or North Pacific area) and loading condition, the appropriate accelerations can be used to optimise the loading plan or lashing or to allow heavier containers to be stowed higher in the tiers.”

BV’s calculations show that stack weights midships for ULCs using BV lashing software can be increased by up to 22 tonnes per container stack. Without the requirements of this notation, container ship lashing plans must be checked against the most demanding loading conditions, so requiring a maximum onesize-fits-all transverse acceleration figure. LASHING WW offers a more precise evaluation by using actual transverse accelerations without losing the safety margin.

Says Segretain, “This approach is simple and quick and offers much greater cargo and lashing flexibility without compromising safety, compared to existing rules or route-dependent systems which are still using the global assumed transversal accelerations without considering the influence of the natural roll period which varies with the loading condition of the ship.”

ClassNK releases amendments to Class Rules Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construc on of Steel Ships Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) announced recently that it had released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships.

ClassNK continuously reviews, updates, and amends its technical rules and guidance as part of its ongoing ef-

forts to improve the safety of life and property at sea, and to protect the marine environment. The Rules and Guidance are amended regularly in order to reflect the latest research results from damage investigations as well as changes made to relevant international conventions, IACS Unified Requirements, national regulations, and requests from the maritime industry. The amendments, dated 30 June 2014, include the following:

Amendment:

Source:

Requirements related to “Black-out Tests in Special Surveys” Requirements related to “Hull Surveys (Review of the definition of General Dry Cargo Ships etc.)”

Requirements related to “Plans and Procedures for Recovery of Persons from the Water” Requirements related to “Strength Requirements for Ventilators and Air Pipes Fitted on Exposed Fore Decks”

Requests from industry Damage investigation feedback obtained during surveys Changes made to relevant international conventions Changes made to relevant IACS Unified Requirements

The printed version of the rules and guidance is now available for purchase online, and the PDF version of the rules and guidance are available free of charge via ClassNK’s website www.classnk.com for those who have registered for the ClassNK “My Page” service. To register for the “My Page” service free of charge, go to ClassNK’s website and click on the “My Page Login” button.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 59

FORUM

7th Telaccount Athens Forum 2014 Mari me communica ons with future vessel technologies On Thursday 5th June, 2014, Telaccount Overseas held their 7th annual workshop with the title 'Maritime communications with future vessel technologies'. The Forum took place, for the first time, in Athens at the Ledra Hotel with great success. The Managing Director of Telaccount Overseas, Adonis Violaris, welcomed the participants of the forum. Station711, Kyle Hurst chaired the Forum and provided an overview of the history in communications, but also the latest developments of the industry.

Em. Kothris of Eletson with Adonis Violaris of Telaccount Overseas

The Forum had many interesting topics that outlined the fundamental concepts which could assist the participants in a better understanding of Satellite Technologies and the future needs on communications and IT on board vessels.

The first speaker was Alex van Knotsenborg, VP Sales EMEA Inmarsat Maritime, who said that “aligning the technological development within the maritime industry with time, we see that development was slow. It took literally thousands of years between a means to measure latitude versus longitude, giving the seafarer a true position on earth. With the Industrial revolution, shipping changed from sail to steam and from steam to diesel. On the electronic front, development accelerated with the introduction of radio and radar, and ships became more reliable and safer for crew to sail.

Ships were getting bigger and bigger, and computerisation accelerated the development bringing us into the Internet revolution. Inmarsat followed in the ’80ties, ’90ties, and the zero’s with Fleet Broadband in 2008. Computerisation brought us personal devices which seafarers bring on board. These devices are becoming a part of our life, on shore but also at sea.

The next revolution is the “Internet of Things” where Cisco expects 25 billion (!) devices to be connected to the internet in

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2015. Early adopters in the maritime industry are starting to embrace this concept, where sensor information is collected on the vessel and brought ashore to make business decisions. Inmarsat’s answer and commitment to the Maritime Industrial Internet development is Global Xpress, providing an industrial grade global High Speed data network, specifically designed for (maritime) mobile users. The Service Enablement Platform, which forms an integral part of the Global Xpress, will allow partners and developers to build applications, feeding the Maritime Industrial Internet revolution.

In 2013 we talked about integrated networks on a ‘digital ship’.

In 2020 we may have the ‘smart ship’ concept where we move into global maintenance and repair, remote monitoring, intelligent navigation technology, and advanced analytics & decision making. The industry is already discussing drone ships where Fleet Control Centres are more or less controlling ships. The Future is happening now”.

The Forum followed with the presentation of Roger Adamson, Chief Executive, Stark Moore Macmillan (SMM) and pointed out that “Regulation has historically been the prime driver for innovation within shipping and maritime, and there is no doubt that complying with future mandates—from emissions to noise reduction—are challenges which can increasingly only be met by the intelligent deployment of technology solutions. But for an industry considered to be operating ‘in the stone age’ by business analysts, the real opportunities, and threats, of the accelerating pace of global technological change to shipping and maritime companies have yet to be properly identified and addressed. Focussed on shipping’s technology-enabled future, Futurenautics bridges that gap, enabling shipping and maritime leaders and stakeholders to understand at a strategic level, the key trends which are shaping the future. From nanotechnology, 3D / additive printing, sensors and actuators, smart materials, and high throughput satellites, to M2M, the Cloud, big data, the Millennial generation, and the automation of knowledge work, Futurenautics delivers clarity and context, identifying how trends directly relate to and impact the shipping and commercial maritime world.”

Robert Kenworthy, CEO, H2O Satellite emphasised that “Traditionally, ships have been left to get on with the job of sailing the oceans and that was mostly because the communications link to them was slow and expensive. Things have changed, the pipe has got bigger and cheaper, so it is time to re-think how we communicate with our ships at sea. There has been a massive increase in data usage across shipping and some companies are treating their ships as remote offices, also some companies bring the Captain into management meetings using video conferencing.

We have embraced this change and produced packages to cater for the larger data usage. Packages such as our very pow-

FORUM erful and flexible Automatic File Transfer called RAFT and our crew web browsing software package called ICE”.

Telaccount business partner Chartworld representative, Stefanos Andreou (Sales Manager, Chartworld) introduced “Chartworld as a global leader since 2002 in providing digital chart solutions for marine application and through eSeries, a package of services, it’s revolutionalising the ECDIS market and making ECDIS implementation easy. eSeries is an ECDIS as a Service solution for shipping companies changing to ECDIS and paperless navigation.

ChartWorld specialises in ECDIS and its manufacturing eGlobe, a type approved ECDIS featuring a high quality 24 inch panel display. eGlobe comes with prefilled Admiralty world class ENCs. A plug and play cable is also provided for the installation of eGlobe and in case of any failures a new unit is sent on board and the exchange can be done by a crew member avoiding the need to send a service engineer. ChartWorld provides a complete navigation data service that also services data from the UKHO such as AVCS, AIO, ARCS, ADRS and ADLL plus a full range of ENCs from Primar and IC-ENC. ChartBrowser is a chart selecting and chart ordering tool that has been developed by ChartWorld’s sister company Seven Seas and it makes importing or creating a rout, ordering and managing all types of nautical charts simple and easy. Chart Browser is easy to install on any type of PC or Laptop on board a vessel and in the office, it has a complete up to date catalogue of all available chart data ENCs, raster charts and also paper charts.

ChartWorld also offers solutions for the crew training via eCert and its partners MSG for Generic training and Safebridge for Type Specific Training which is done with a CBT method”.

The Forum session continued with Telaccount’s new partner, Joseph Efthymiadis (Manager, BusineSim) having said that “In the last 20 years our lives have changed completely thanks to telecommunication technology improvement and new innovations. These days each person considers telecommunication a priority and mobile phones / smart phones and tablets became an extension of the human body. For those who spend most of their time due to their work in deep waters, away from their families, friends, and homeland, it became more than a necessity to get informed about the daily happenings / news in their town and country, and listen to the voices of their relatives.

For those who need to communicate business matters, information cannot wait anymore. Heavy data exchanges became a must for security reasons. All these information exchanges require heavy DATA and VOICE. BusineSim is the international communication tool (197 countries) and is here to provide all in one (DATA (3G) + VOICE) at very low rates and in many occasions free of charge. Soon we will also be able to talk in deep sea at

very low rates thanks to BusineSim”.

The last presenter was also a new Telaccount partner Capt.

Goran Vidak (Director, MIC News). During different summits, forums, and conferences regarding communications to / from the vessels, respectable speakers are informing us about development of communication equipments, what advantages we should meet during the coming years etc. Discussions focus on what the next means of communication will be onboard the vessels, the Sentinet ships or the Cyborg crew, however at the moment less than 10% of the world fleets' have some kind of Internet access on board, and this should be a warning for us to draw attention to the possible lack of communication with seafarers in the 21st century.

By comparing life on board in the past, at present and in the future, and by following more and more requirements, Maritime daily news service could be of significant importance for each involved parties, such as Owner, Manager, Charterer and definitely for crew on board too. MIC news provides a daily news serviceprepared by local correspondents in local language covering 35 different nationalities. As well as news for English speaking countries, there are more English editions: International news, Maritime news and Sunday News on Board.

By using MIC news daily service, Owners with Internet access on board can obtain a significant financial benefit too,¬ a simple calculation can prove how to save 720 hours (one month) on the internet per year per vessel.

Adonis Violaris (Managing Director, Telaccount Overseas) just before closing the forum gave an update on todays’ maritime satellite communication technologies, then the chairman ended the forum with some closing remarks. A marvelous lunch at the hotel’s restaurant followed for all the participants of the forum.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 61

TECHNICAL

Doosan Delivers World’s First ME-GI Engine Container ship receives revolu onary, dual-fuel, low-speed engine Doosan Engine has confirmed delivery of the world’s first dualfuel, low-speed ME-GI engine to the American National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego, USA. The new engine is capable of operation on LNG and/or bunker C oil and will power the first of two 3,100-teu container ships ordered

by TOTE, the American marine transportation company.

The Korean engine maker originally won the order to build the ME-GI engines in 2013, since which time the first ME-GI unit has successfully passed through design, manufacture, and test-run stages. On 3 June 2014, Doosan Engine successfully completed the engine’s official trial run in the presence of the shipowner, shipyard, and classification society representatives.

Doosan Engine also tested the ME-GI’s Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS), which has 300 bar of operating pressure, at its Changwon plant. At the culmination of two months of extensive testing, the gas system had passed all regulations and restrictions as regulated by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and United The MAN B&W 8L70ME-GI engine pictured at Doosan’s Changwon works in Korea (courtesy Doosan Engine) States Coast Guard (USCG).

The TOTE ME-GI engine will primarily operate on LNG, which is currently more competitively priced than bunker-C oil. The ME-GI is a next-generation, eco-friendly engine, which reduces and will operate between Florida and Puerto Rico. The ship depolluted material such as carbon dioxide, nitrogenous comsign will allow the transport of conceivable products. pound, and sulphur compounds compared to existing diesel The ME-GI engine engines.

The ME-GI engine represents the culmination of many years’ The contract work. Depending on relative price and availability, as well as enThe TOTE contract provides for the construction of two newvironmental considerations, the ME-GI engine gives shipowners building, state-of-the-art containerships – with an option for and operators the option of using either HFO or gas – predomthree more vessels – for primarily domestic services. The vessels inantly natural gas. An ME-LGI counterpart is also being develwill each be powered by a single 8L70ME-GI dual-fuel gas-powoped that uses LPG and methanol. ered engine.

MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities arising for The two 3,100 TEU vessels will be the most environmentally gas-fuelled tonnage as fuel prices rise and modern exhaustfriendly containerships in the world, powered primarily by LNG, emission limits tighten. Indeed, research indicates that the MEGI engine delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SOx emissions. Furthermore, the ME-GI engine has no methane slip and is therefore the most environmentally friendly technology available. As such, the ME-GI engine represents a highly efficient, flexible, propulsion-plant solution.

About TOTE Inc.

Rendering of the new TOTE container ship (Source: General Dynamics NASSCO)

62 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

TOTE Inc. is one of the United States leading marine transportation companies. TOTE Inc.’s maritime

TECHNICAL subsidiaries include TOTE Shipholdings Inc., Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Sea Star Line, which provide regular marine transportation for general cargo between the continental United States and Alaska and Puerto Rico. TOTE Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources, Inc., a family owned, Seattlebased holding company of freight transportation and petroleum distribution companies.

About NASSCO Part of the General Dynamics Corporation – the United States aerospace and defense company – NASSCO has designed and built ships in San Diego’s industrial corridor since 1960 and has locations on both the U.S. west and east coasts. The company specialises in the design, construction and repair of auxiliary and support ships for the U.S. Navy, as well as oil tankers and dry

cargo carriers for commercial markets.

Principal Vessel Technical Specifications Length Overall (ft.)

764

Breadth (ft.)

106 (Panamax)

Depth (ft.)

60

Draft (ft.)

34

Speed (kn)

22.0

Propulsion plant Main engine

MAN B&W 8L70ME-C8.2-GI (ME-GI)

Main Engine MCR (kW)

25,191 kW x 104.0 rpm

Main Engine NCR (kW)

21,412

MAN Propulsion System for New GEFO Tanker MAN Diesel & Turbo has supplied a complete propulsion system comprising a 7L32/44CR engine, Renk gears and an Alpha adjustable CP propeller for an ultra-modern chemicals tanker operated by GEFO Gesellschaft für Öltransporte mbH. For MAN Diesel & Turbo, the order represents a breakthrough for the 32/44CR series in the small twin-hulled tanker sector of the market.

The tanker, christened “Fidelio”, has a DWT of 6366 and can transport 260 types of (petro-) chemical materials – from vegetable oil to sulfuric acid. The Fidelio’s main routes will be in northern Europe, however the tanker is also equipped for worldwide operation and therefore complies with the strict emissions regulations enforced in US coastal waters. The chemicals tanker was built at the Tersan shipyard in Yalova (Turkey) and is currently on its maiden voyage from Israel via France to the Netherlands.

The 7L32/44CR engine, built at MAN Diesel & Turbo’s plant in Augsburg, has an output of 3,920 kW and drives a MAN Alpha Mark 5 adjustable propeller via a reduction gear unit from Renk.

This combination boosts the drive system’s efficiency by up to nine percent, helping to save both fuel and costs as well as reduce emissions.

The gears also have a pinion shaft which operates a Cummins generator to supply the ship’s power (PTO mode). The generator can also serve as an electrical motor to drive the propeller at reduced speeds and when the main engine is offline (PTH mode). With this configuration, the propulsion system guarantees a high level of reliability and excellent cost-effectiveness.

The tanker “Fidelio” is the first in a series of three new designs featuring the MAN drive train to also include the “Othello” and the “Traviata”, and which are due to be delivered in the summer and fall of this year.

“We focused intently on the dimensioning and design of the tankers to achieve the best possible efficiency. The modern MAN Common Rail engines and propeller optimization with a MAN Alpha propeller played a key role in this,” says Michael Blume, Technical Project Manager at GEFO. “As a long-estab-

lished partner, we have already worked closely with MAN Diesel & Turbo during the planning phase”.

“The order confirms our customer GEFO’s confidence in us,” says Klaus Deleroi, Head of the Medium Speed Business Unit at MAN Diesel & Turbo. “The MAN 32/44CR engine impressed GEFO with its high reliability, compact design, low running and maintenance costs and low exhaust and noise emissions.”

The 32/44CR engine was developed as a drive and auxiliary engine for use on ships, for the offshore industry and for stationary applications. With electrically controlled injection, variable valve control and highly efficient turbochargers, it combines all of the latest technologies available for large diesel engines. The Common Rail technology from MAN Diesel & Turbo supports parameters that permit the flexible adjustment of the injection point, duration and pressure. With its highly specific output with simultaneously low fuel consumption and reduced emissions, the 32/44CR is setting new standards in its engine class.

About MAN Diesel & Turbo MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, based in Augsburg, Germany, is the world’s leading provider of large-bore diesel engines and turbomachinery for marine and stationary applications. It designs two-stroke and fourstroke engines that are manufactured both by the company and by its licensees. The engines have power outputs ranging from 450 kW to 87 MW. MAN Diesel & Turbo also designs and manufactures gas turbines of up to 50 MW, steam turbines of up to 150 MW and compressors with volume flows of up to 1.5 million m³/h and pressures of up to 1,000 bar.

The product range is rounded off by turbochargers, propellers, gas engines and chemical reactors. MAN Diesel & Turbo’s range of goods includes complete marine propulsion systems, turbomachinery units for the oil & gas as well as the process industries and complete power plant solutions. Customers receive worldwide after-sales services marketed under the MAN PrimeServ brand. The company employs around 14,500 staff at more than 100 international sites, primarily in Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, India and China. MAN Diesel & Turbo is a company in the Power Engineering business area of MAN SE.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 63

Piraeus P iraeus Maritime Maritime Training Traiining Centre Centre S .RANIS .RANIS

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ΜΕΤΑΞΥ ΜΑΣ

Ποσειδώνια 2014 Το άλλο πρόσωπο της Ελλάδας Τα «Ποσειδώνια 2014» πέρασαν στην αρμαθιά των αναμνήσεων. Για τη χώρα, όμως, ήταν μια από τις ελάχιστες ευκαιρίες να δείξει ένα διαφορετικό πρόσωπο. Σε μια εποχή, κατά την οποία το άκουσμα της λέξης «Ελλάς» παραπέμπει σε μνημόνια, προαπαιτούμενα, δόσεις, περικοπές, συσσίτια και διαμαρτυρίες, τα «Ποσειδώνια» παρουσίασαν μια Ελλάδα πανίσχυρη, πρωτοστατούσα, αποτελεσματική και παντοδύναμη. Όλα αυτά, φυσικά, αφορούν στο χώρο της Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας, στον οποίο η χώρα μας διατηρεί από καιρό τα πρωτεία και φροντίζει να ετοιμάζεται μεθοδικά για το αύριο. Η πολυπληθής παρουσία εκθετών και επισκεπτών, η ποιότητα των εταιρειών που έλαβαν μέρος στην έκθεση αλλά και οι σημαντικές παρουσίες στα «πάνελ» των «Ποσειδωνιακών» συνεδρίων, αποτυπώθηκε στον διεθνή και τον ελληνικό Τύπο και έστειλε το μήνυμα που λέει, «εδώ κάτι συμβαίνει». Τα «Ποσειδώνια», που από τις αρχές της δεκαετίας του ’70 κρατούν ψηλά την ελληνική σημαία, αποτελούν το απόλυτο παράδειγμα του τι μπορεί να πετύχει η Ιδιωτική Πρωτοβουλία, ακόμη και σε μια χώρα όπως η Ελλάδα, που μέχρι πριν λίγο καιρό διακρινόταν για τη «σοβιετολαγνεία» της. Χωρίς κρατική ενίσχυση, τα «Ποσειδώνια» είναι σήμερα ένας από τους ελάχιστους θεσμούς που διατηρούνται στην ελληνική κοινωνία. Ολόκληρη «Διεθνής Έκθεσις Θεσσαλονίκης» έχει υποβαθμισθεί, λόγω του ασφυκτικού κρατικού εναγκαλισμού, που τη μετέβαλε σε απαρίθμηση περιπτέρων των διαφόρων υπουργείων και ΔΕΚΟ. Και άλλες εκθέσεις, που επεδίωξαν να καθιερωθούν αλλά στηρίχθηκαν στην «κρατική επιχορήγηση», απέτυχαν και χρεοκόπησαν. Τα «Ποσειδώνια», όμως, κινούνται μέσα στον πλέον ανταγωνιστικό, τον πλέον υγιή κλάδο της ελληνικής αλλά και της παγκόσμιας οικονομίας, τη Ναυτιλία.

Τα «Ποσειδώνια» ασχολούνται με τον κλάδο εκείνο, στον οποίο οι Έλληνες δημιουργούν και κερδίζουν, χρεοκοπούν και ξανασηκώνονται, αγωνιούν και δανείζονται, «σηκώνουν» κεφάλαια από το διεθνές χρηματοπιστωτικό σύστημα και διατηρούν ζωντανό τον πρώτο σε χωρητικότητα εμπορικό στόλο του κόσμου! Αυτόν, λοιπόν, τον κλάδο, την Εμπορική Ναυτιλία, οφείλει το ελληνικό κράτος να προστατεύει, να ενισχύει και να διευκολύνει. Δεν εννοούμε, φυσικά ενισχύσεις οικονομικές, όπως γινόταν με την περίφημη «Ελληνική Βιομηχανία», η οποία απομύζησε εκατοντάδες δισεκατομμύρια και άφησε πίσω της άδεια κτίρια. Η «ενίσχυση» προς την Ελληνική Εμπορική Ναυτιλία, έχει τίτλο: «Μην ενοχλείτε»! Το καλύτερο, που μπορεί να πράξει η ελληνική Πολιτεία απέναντι στη Ναυτιλία της, είναι να μην παρεμβάλλει εμπόδια στη λειτουργία της. Βεβαίως, και από πλευράς πλοιοκτησίας, πρέπει να τηρούνται οι απαραίτητες ισορροπίες. Λόγου χάρη, τα ελληνικά πλοία, πρέπει να απασχολούν όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερους Έλληνες αξιωματικούς. Δεν μπορεί η χώρα, σε περίοδο οικονομικής κρίσης, να μην έχει το «καταφύγιο» της Ναυτιλίας, όπως το είχε σε κάθε κρίσιμη εποχή, με τη ναυτολόγηση χιλιάδων Ελληνόπουλων στα ελληνικά πλοία. Η ελληνική Πολιτεία οφείλει να αναγνωρίζει την προσφορά της Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας αλλά και η Ναυτιλία οφείλει να στηρίζει τη χώρα στα δύσκολα. Τα «Ποσειδώνια» ήταν μια πρώτης τάξεως ευκαιρία να έρθουν κοντά το Κράτος και η Ναυτιλία. Η μεστή παρουσία του πρωθυπουργού, είναι ένα καλό δείγμα. Περιμένουμε τη συνέχεια και ετοιμαζόμαστε για τα «Ποσειδώνια 2016». Καλό Καλοκαίρι…

ΛΕΤΤΑ ΔΗΜΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ-ΜΑΚΡΗ

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 65

ΑΠΟΨΗ

Ραντεβού τον Σεπτέμβρη... του Δημήτρη Καπράνου

Σε πρόσφατη συνάντησή μας, στα «Ποσειδώνια», ο υπουργός Ναυτιλίας Μιλτ. Βαρβιτσιώτης, μου είπε: «Το θέμα της απελευθέρωσης της Ναυτικής Εκπαίδευσης θα έχει λυθεί μέχρι τον Σεπτέμβριο». Στη συζήτηση υπήρξαν και αυτήκοοι μάρτυρες, οπότε ας περιμένουμε ακόμη τρεις μήνες... Εφέτος, πάντως, μόλις 1.192 σπουδαστές, όσοι ακριβώς και πέρυσι, θα εισαχθούν στις «Ακαδημίες Εμπορικού Ναυτικού». Όπως ανακοίνωσε ο Μιλτ. Βαρβιτσιώτης, για το 2014, προβλέπεται η εισαγωγή 694 υποψηφίων πλοιάρχων και 498 υποψηφίων μηχανικών. Βεβαίως, με ένα σταθερό ποσοστό διαρροής γύρω στο 30%, υπολογίζεται ότι μόλις 834 από αυτούς αναμένεται να πάνε στη θάλασσα, σε μια εποχή που η ευρωπαϊκή ναυτιλία «κάνει αμάν» για Ευρωπαίους αξιωματικούς, αλλά τα ελληνικά πλοία, παρά τα όσα περί του αντιθέτου υποστηρίζουν οι πλοιοκτήτες, προτιμούν το ξένο «χαμηλόμισθο και ήσυχο» δυναμικό. Και όμως, η χώρα μας έχει συμπράξει στη σύνταξη της διεθνούς σύμβασης STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), την οποία στη συνέχεια υιοθέτησε, μαζί με άλλες 120 χώρες-μέλη του Διεθνούς Ναυτιλιακού Οργανισμού (ΙΜΟ). Από το 1978, η STCW αποτελεί μέρος της εθνικής μας νομοθεσίας, αλλά ...δεν εφαρμόζεται, αφού κράτος και πλοιοκτησία την ερμηνεύουν κατά το δοκούν και κρατούν την Ναυτική εκπαίδευση στην Ελλάδα δέσμια ενός συστήματος εξωφρενικά χρονοβόρου, σπάταλου και αναποτελεσματικού. Δεν είναι, λοιπόν, μόνο οι αποφάσεις του Σ τ Ε που δεν εφαρμόζονται σ’ αυτή τη χώρα... Μια χώρα που διαθέτει ακτές μήκους 16.600 χιλιο-

66 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

μέτρων και 7.929 νησιά , κατέχει το 18,5% του παγκοσμίου τονάζ πλοίων και την δεύτερη σε αριθμό (πρώτη σε τονάζ) ναυτιλία στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, εξακολουθεί να οδηγεί το ελληνικό ναυτικό δυναμικό στην εξαφάνιση, αφού κάθε χρόνο όλο και λιγότεροι Έλληνες παίρνουν το δρόμο προς τη θάλασσα, ενώ οι αλλοδαποί που ναυτολογούνται στα ελληνικά βαπόρια, σιγά-σιγά τους εκτοπίζουν. Την ώρα, λοιπόν, που η ΕΕ ανακηρύσσει τους Ευρωπαίους αξιωματικούς Εμπορικού ναυτικού «είδος προς εξαφάνιση», την ώρα που οι σοβαρές, μεγάλες και αξιόπιστες ναυτιλιακές εταιρείες εμπιστεύονται τους Έλληνες αξιωματικούς περισσότερο (δυστυχώς) από τους Έλληνες εφοπλιστές, το ελληνικό κράτος εξακολουθεί να διατηρεί το καθεστώς «κλειστού κλαμπ» στην Ναυτική Εκπαίδευση, απαγορεύοντας τη λειτουργία Ιδιωτικών Ναυτιλιακών Κολεγίων, όπως λειτουργούν σε όλο τον κόσμο! Έτσι, έχουμε το φαινόμενο να χορηγούν ελληνικά ιδιωτικά Ναυτιλιακά Κολέγια διπλώματα με τη σφραγίδα της Μάλτας, της Κύπρου ή άλλων Ναυτιλιακών χωρών αλλά να τους απαγορεύεται να χορηγήσουν ελληνικά πτυχία! Ταυτόχρονα, Έλληνες, που δεν εισήχθησαν στις (ο Θεός να τις κάνει) «Ακαδημίες», σπουδάζουν σε Ιδιωτικά Ναυτιλιακά Κολέγια στην Κύπρο, στην Αγγλία, στη Σουηδία, στη Ρουμανία. Βεβαίως, στη διαμόρφωση αυτού του μίζερου κλίματος, έχουν παίξει ρόλο και οι Λιμενικοί, οι οποίοι θεωρούν «Δικό τους Πεδίο» την Ναυτική Εκπαίδευση και με κάθε τρόπο, εισηγούνται στους εκάστοτε υπουργούς πάντοτε αρνητικά, όποτε κάποιος από τους πολιτικούς επικεφαλής του υπουργείου τείνει ευήκοον ους προς την απελευθέρωση του εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος στη Ναυτιλία. Ας θυμηθούμε, ότι ο πρωθυπουργός πήγε εφέτος στα «Ποσειδώνια» και επισκέφθηκε όλα τα περίπτερα, ότι ο νέος υπουργός Οικονομικών χαρακτήρισε τη Ναυτιλία «πυλώνα της οικονομίας» και ότι με βάση την ελληνική ισχύουσα Νομοθεσία, η σύμβαση STCW, που θα απελευθερώσει την Ναυτική Εκπαίδευση από την ιδιότυπη ομηρεία της, είναι Νόμος του κράτους!

ΑΠΟΨΗ

Θα μας κουρέψουν και τον… καιρό; του Παναγιώτη Ταμπουρέα Θ’ αρχίσω από τον …καιρό. Συζητώντας με τον προκάτοχο του σημερινού Γερμανού πρέσβη, τον άκουσα να μου λέει, μεταξύ σοβαρού και αστείου: «Σας κάνουμε σιγά-σιγά να λειτουργείτε όπως η Γερμανία. Όπου να ’ναι θα σας φέρουμε και τον …καιρό της Γερμανίας!» Λέτε να το εννοούσε; Μέχρι στιγμής το καλοκαίρι μας είναι, τουλάχιστον, περίεργο! Τώρα, ας ασχοληθούμε με την …κομμωτική! Επιτρέψτε μου να σχολιάσω το προσφιλές θέμα που απασχολεί τους πάντες σήμερα στη χώρα μας. «Θα μας κουρέψουν τα χρέη;» ρωτάει ο κόσμος. «Πόσο …κοντό θα είναι το κούρεμα; Θα είναι με την ψιλή σκάλα της μηχανής ή με την χοντρή; Θα μας κάνουν καθαρισμό μόνο του σβέρκου ή θα μας αφήσουν ακούρευτους;»! Εκτιμώ, ότι κάποιας μορφής ελάφρυνση ή καλύτερα διευκόλυνση αποπληρωμής του χρέους, θα γίνει. Το έχουν ήδη υποσχεθεί και θα έρθει ως επιβράβευση της προσπάθειας που κατέβαλε και καταβάλλει η χώρα για να παράγει τα περίφημα, πλην όμως προβληματικά, κατά την άποψή μου, πλεονάσματα. Για να είναι, όμως, αποτελεσματική, χρήσιμη και λειτουργική μια μείωση του χρέους, θα έπρεπε να είναι του μεγέθους εκείνου, που θα το εξισώνει με τον μέσο όρο της ευρωζώνης ή καλύτερα των καλών συνεταίρων και ανταγωνιστών μας. Αυτό συνεπάγεται μια μεγάλη μείωση του χρέους, σε επίπεδα κάτω του 100% του εθνικού εισοδήματος, δηλαδή μια ελάφρυνση –κούρεμα, μεγαλύτερη του 55%! Το ερώτημα που τίθεται είναι κατά πόσο μια μείωση της πέραν αυτού του ποσοστού, είναι εφικτό να γίνει αποδεκτό από τις κυβερνήσεις και τα κοινοβούλια των δανειστών μας. Η απάντηση είναι σχετικά δύσκολο να δοθεί. Εκτιμώ, όμως, ότι μπορεί να σημειωθεί πρόοδος, με μια κατάλληλη διαχείριση του θέματος από τα μέσα μαζικής επικοινωνίας των χωρών των δανειστών μας, στα οποία θα προβάλλεται η σκληρή τιμωρία, που έχει επιβληθεί στους άφρονες και απρόσεκτους Έλληνες και στην πρωτοφανή προσπάθεια που έχουν καταβάλλει μέσω της μείωσης των μισθών τους και της υψηλής φορολογίας που τους έχει επιβληθεί. «Έχουν εκτίσει πλέον την ποινή τους και αξίζουν την υποστήριξή μας», μπορεί να πουν οι δανειστές. Αυτή η άποψη, διανθισμένη και με μια δόση ανθρωπισμού και ευρωπαϊκής αλληλεγγύης, θα μπορούσε να κάμψει τις όποιες αντιδράσεις. Εκείνο που δεν θα μπορούσαν, κατά την άποψή μου, να δικαιολογήσουν και να αντιμετωπίσουν οι δανειστές, θα ήταν η εύλογη αξίωση, την οποία θα προέβαλλαν οι άλλες χώρες του ευρωπαϊκού νότου και η Ιρλανδία, οι οποίες θα διατύπωναν το δικαιολογημένο αίτημα να κουρευτούν αναλόγως και τα δικά τους χρέη. Είναι βέβαιο, ότι εάν αθροισθούν τα απαιτούμενα κεφάλαια για την ικανοποίηση του συνολικού αυτού αιτήματος, τα ποσά

τα οποία θα απαιτηθούν είναι τεράστια και καμία κυβέρνηση και κανένα κοινοβούλιο δεν θα αποτολμούσε να αποδεχτεί μια τέτοια λύση. Άρα, λοιπόν, αυτό που αποτελεί το βασικό εμπόδιο στο κούρεμα είναι η συνολική αξίωση, που θα τεθεί από όλες τις χειμαζόμενες οικονομίες. Μπροστά σε αυτό το ενδεχόμενο, είναι βέβαιο ότι η απάντηση στο αίτημα του κουρέματος με τη λογική της εφ’ άπαξ μείωσης, είναι λίγο απίθανο να επιτευχθεί. Σωστό, ίσως, θα είναι να απαιτήσουμε τη διασφάλιση του κεφαλαίου, χωρίς την καταβολή επιτοκίων και τα πλεονάσματα να επαναεπενδύονται στην οικονομία, έτσι, ώστε να διευκολύνουμε και να επιταχύνουμε την ανάπτυξη, η οποία μοιραία επιφέρει και την αύξηση του εθνικού εισοδήματος, η οποία με τη σειρά της θα μειώνει το ποσοστό του χρέους. Η διαδικασία αυτή θα συνεχιστεί μέχρι του σημείου εκείνου, που η σχέση χρέους και εισοδήματος θα μας επιτρέψει να βγούμε στις αγορές και με χαμηλά επιτόκια να μετακυλήσουμε το χρέος από τις δανείστριες χώρες στην αγορά. Η αποδοχή διασφάλισης του συνολικού χρέους ακούγεται θετικά και γίνεται καθημερινά στην αγορά, αφού όταν ο δανειζόμενος είναι σε κακή κατάσταση, θεωρείται επιτυχία η είσπραξη του κεφαλαίου. Η μακροοικονομική δικαιολογία, βασίζεται στο γεγονός ότι το ποσοστό του χρέους μας είναι μεγάλο και οποιαδήποτε μικρή επιτοκιακή επιβάρυνση γίνεται μεγάλη, ως ποσοστό επί τοις εκατό του εθνικού εισοδήματος. Η αύξηση του εθνικού εισοδήματος που μπορεί να επιτευχθεί, δεν θα είναι, λόγω της συγκυρίας, πολύ μεγαλύτερη από τους τόκους και λογικά δεν μπορεί και δεν επιτρέπεται να απορροφάται για την εξυπηρέτηση του χρέους, διότι υπονομεύεται η ανάπτυξη και γυρίζουμε πάλι στο σημείο που αρχίσαμε, στην ύφεση και στασιμότητα. Είναι ενδιαφέρον να γνωρίζουμε, ότι οι χώρες χρηματοδοτούνται με έναν παράξενο τρόπο. Για παράδειγμα, ποτέ δεν πληρώνουν τις υποχρεώσεις τους! Ακούγεται κάπως παράξενα, αλλά απλώς, μέσω των αγορών, αναχρηματοδοτούν τις ληξιπρόθεσμες οφειλές τους! Γι’ αυτό, τουλάχιστον, το χρέος σε απόλυτο αριθμό δεν μειώνεται σε καμία χώρα, πράγμα που σημαίνει ότι τα περισσεύματα δεν πηγαίνουν στη μείωση του χρέους αλλά κάπου αλλού. Αυτό που επιτυγχάνουν οι χώρες είναι η διατηρησιμότητα του χρέους. Δηλαδή, αυξάνεται το εισόδημα και μειώνεται το ποσοστό του χρέους στα επίπεδα εκείνα, που η αγορά αποδέχεται ότι είναι λογικά και μπορούν, θεωρητικά πάντα, να εξυπηρετηθούν.

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Εύσημα που δεν βλάπτουν του Γεώργιου Απ. Βασόπουλου - Ναύαρχος Λ.Σ. (ε.α.) Επίτιμος Αρχηγός Λ.Σ.

Σύμφωνα με πρόσφατα στοιχεία έγκυρων διεθνών πηγών (Lloyd’s Register, Clarksons κ.λπ.) ο ελληνόκτητος στόλος με 3.670 πλοία, από τα οποία 376 υπό ναυπήγηση, συνολικής χωρητικότητας (gross tonnage) 164 εκατ. τόνων όχι μόνο επανήλθε στην πρώτη θέση της παγκόσμιας κατάταξης αλλά βρίσκεται και στα υψηλότερα επίπεδα της ιστορίας του. Σε σύγκριση με το 2012 παρουσιάζει, αύξηση κατά 224 πλοία. Το επιμέρους ποσοστό του υπό ελληνική σημαία στόλου ανέρχεται στο 21% του ελληνόκτητου (800 περίπου πλοία άνω των 1.000gt) συνεχώς μειούμενο. Δεν παραβλέπεται ότι εξωγενείς παράγοντες και εγγενείς δυσχέρειες, όπως οι χρηματοδοτήσεις, χρονοναυλώσεις, διεθνής ανταγωνισμός, υποδομές κ.λπ κρατούν πέρα από τις προθέσεις της πλοιοκτησίας ένα μεγάλο τμήμα του ελληνόκτητου στόλου εκτός ελληνικής σημαίας. Το άνοιγμα, όμως, μεταξύ ελληνόκτητου και υπό ελληνική σημαία στόλου είναι μεγάλο και επιτακτικά τίθεται το ερώτημα κατά πόσο η πολιτεία, όσον την αφορά, διαχρονικά, έχει ασκήσει τις πολιτικές που θα συνέβαλλαν στην μεγιστοποίηση των πάσης φύσεως προσόδων από τις πολλαπλές δραστηριότητες της Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας. Πρωτοβουλίες όπως η ίδρυση ίδιου διοικητικού φορέα (ΥΕΝ – ΛΣ) η κρατική εγγύηση για την αγορά των περίφημων 100 Liberties και ιδιαίτερα το άρθρο 13 του Νόμου 2687/1953 περί προστασίας εισηγμένων κεφαλαίων έβαλαν τα θεμέλια της υπό ελληνική σημαία ναυτιλίας επί των οποίων η αγαστή συνεργασία πλοιοκτησίας, ναυτικών και κράτους, έκτισαν το λεγόμενο ελληνικό ναυτιλιακό θαύμα. Δυστυχώς δεν έλειψαν, ιδίως κατά την τελευταία τριακονταετία, ευκαιριακές και μυωπικές πολιτικές διανθισμένες με ιδεοληψίες, φτάνοντας μέχρι και στην διάλυση του Υπουργείου Ναυτιλίας, οι οποίες διατάραξαν το κλίμα με όλα τα δυσάρεστα συνεπακόλουθα. Οι πολιτικές αυτές πέ-

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ρα από την συρρίκνωση του νηολογίου μας, απαντούν, έστω και με υπερβολή στο ερώτημα οικονομικών μας αναλυτών «ποια κατάρα μας κατατρέχει ώστε να μην εκμεταλλευόμαστε όλους τους σημαντικούς πόρους μας» αλλά και το αντίστοιχο ξένων: «πώς τα κατάφερε αυτή η χώρα να πτωχεύσει με τέτοια Εμπορική Ναυτιλία». Η σημασία της Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας, για την εθνική μας οικονομία, μάλιστα εν μέσω δεινής οικονομικής κρίσης, πρόσοδοι της τάξης 15-20 δισεκ. ευρώ, 200.000 θέσεις εργασίας, έργα ευποιίας δισεκ. Ναυτιλιακών ιδρυμάτων, κύρος χώρας και στρατηγικές μεταφορές είναι καθοριστική και επιβάλλει την ομόθυμη στήριξή της. Εκ των πραγμάτων οι οικονομικής μορφής παρεμβάσεις είναι περιορισμένες. Η δημιουργία όμως, υποδομών, η διαφύλαξη των θεσμικών δομών της και η εμπέδωση κλίματος αποδοχής και εμπιστοσύνης με την απόδοση των ευσήμων που της ανήκουν αυτονόητη και αναγκαία. Ο χωρίς επιμερισμό έπαινος πράξεων και φορέων τους, που προάγουν την οικονομία, τον πολιτισμό, την υγεία, την παιδεία κ.λπ. της χώρας είναι πρώτιστο καθήκον των ηγεσιών, είναι καθήκον όλων μας. Μία τέτοια προσέγγιση η οποία με την ευκαιρία της Διεθνούς Ναυτιλιακής Έκθεσης «Ποσειδώνια» θα μπορούσε να περιλαμβάνει και συμβολικές κινήσεις (70η επέτειος Μάχης του Ατλαντικού κ.λπ.) είναι βέβαιο ότι θα βοηθούσε τις δημιουργικές δυνάμεις της Ναυτιλίας να βγουν πιο δυναμικά στο προσκήνιο αντί της σιωπής που ακολουθούν ή τους επιβάλλεται. Το κέρδος θα ήταν μεγάλο για όλους και οι εξαγγελίες για την περαιτέρω συμβολή της στην ανάκαμψη της οικονομίας της χώρας, βάσιμες.

Στην πλώρη... Δυο ώρες έμεινε στα «Ποσειδώνια» ο πρωθυ* πουργός. Γύρισε τα περίπτερα ένα-ένα και μίλησε με τους εκθέτες. Τα είπε ιδιαίτερα με του Κινέζους. Ε, τόσες * επισκέψεις στην Κίνα και στον Πειραιά... τα έμαθε τα κινέζικα! Έπειτα από τον Καραμανλή, ο Σαμαράς * δείχνει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον για τη Ναυτιλία, παρά τις «γκρίνιες» που υπάρχουν για τη φορολογία... Τα «Ποσειδώνια», πάντως, έκαναν καινούρια * ρεκόρ. Περισσότεροι εκθέτες, περισσότερα περίπτερα, περισσότεροι επισκέπτες. Όπως ανακοινώθηκε, στα Σπάτα θα * γίνει και η έκθεση του 2016. Πιο πιθανό είναι να έχουμε... θάλασσα στα Σπάτα παρά εκθεσιακό στον Πειραιά! Ας πάμε τώρα σε ένα άλλο θέμα. Μήπως θα * έπρεπε, οι δημοσιογράφοι που ασχολούνται με το αστυνομικό ρεπορτάζ, να προσέχουν περισσότερο; Το να αναφέρεται ως «εφοπλιστής» ο καθένας * που δηλώνει ότι έχει πλεούμενο, δεν είναι σωστό. Με αφορμή το θέμα του πλοίου με τους δυο * τόνους ηρωίνης, το «ράδιο αρβύλα» έκανε πάλι πιένες! Εντάξει, να κάνουμε τη δουλειά μας και να * δημιουργούμε εντυπώσεις. Οι μέρες, όμως, είναι πονηρές. Για όλους...

μας πέρασε η Μάλτα σε αριθμό * Ωραία, πλοίων και είναι σήμερα πρώτη δύναμη στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Βεβαίως, πολλά από τα «μαλτέζικα» βαπόρια * ανήκουν σε Έλληνς εφοπλιστές! Μήπως να το ξανασκεφτεί λίγο το υπουργείο; Ο ελληνόκτητος στόλος, όμως, πέρασε στην * πρώτη θέση του παγκόσμιου πίνακα σε χωρητικότητα. Μήπως, λέω εγώ τώρα, μέσα στις τόσες μεταρ* ρυθμίσεις, να σκεφτούμε και το παράλληλο νηολόγιο; Αν πιστέψουμε όσα λέει ο υπουργός, από * Σεπτέμβριο θα λειτουργήσουν Ιδιωτικά Κολέγια Ναυτικής Εκπαίδευσης. Επειδή, όμως, έχουμε Ιούλιο και δεν έχει * ακουστεί κάτι σχετικό, υποψιαζόμαστε ότι το θέμα θα ξεχαστεί πάλι... Στις σχολές, πάντως, θα μπουν εφέτος όσοι * και πέρυσι. Δηλαδή θα μείνουν έξω πολλοί νέοι, που θέλουν να πάνε στη θάλασσα. Κατά τα άλλα, απορούμε που δεν έχουμε * Έλληνες αξιωματικούς. Εκτός και αν, στην ουσία, δεν τους θέλουν οι εφοπλιστές. Γιατί δεν μας το λένε καθαρά;

Ποντοπόρος

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Ο Ντίλαν της ζωής μας... Εμείς από κάτω κι ο Ντίλαν πάλι στο πάλκο. Με μια μπάντα εκατό τα εκατό αμερικάνικη, με δυο κιθάρες, κοντραμπάσο, τύμπανα και μια χαβάγια, με ήχο που παρέπεμπε σε άλλες εποχές, κάτι ανάμεσα σε ροκ-εντρολ, μπλουζ, σουΐνγκ και κάντρι. «Μα, ποια τραγούδια λέει;», με ρωτούσε η κοπέλα δίπλα μου, που συνοδευόταν από τον φίλο της. «Που να σου εξηγώ», σκέφτηκα να της πω, μιμούμενος τον Σαββόπουλο, αλλά της εξήγησα. «Όταν έρχεσαι να ακούσεις τον Ντίλαν, δεν περιμένεις το τι θα πει, αλλά σου αρκεί να τον δεις», της είπα και νομίζω ότι δεν κατάλαβε τα λόγια μου. Με άφησε ήσυχο, όμως, με τους δυο φίλους, συνομηλίκους μου, να απολαμβάνουμε τον τροβαδούρο της νιότης μας, τον “protest singer” των εφηβικών μας χρόνων. Για εμάς, για την κλάση μας, δηλαδή ουδεμία σημασία είχε αν τραγουδούσε το “Things have changed” ,το “Blowing in the wind” ή το “Slow train coming”. Μας αρκούσε που τον βλέπαμε, κουρασμένο, σχεδόν παράφωνο, με τη φυσαρμόνικα να βγάζει με κόπο τους ήχους που της έστελναν οι πολυχρησιμοποιημένες πια κυψελίδες των πνευμονιών του. Με καουμπόικο καπέλο, σχεδόν ξαπλωμένος στο ηλεκτρικό πιάνο, προσπαθούσε να μας πείσει ότι είναι και μετρ στο κλειδοκύμβαλο. Πόσο συμπαθητικά ήταν τα φάλτσα και οι εκτός χρόνου και

ρυθμού συγχορδίες που πέταγε δώθε-κείθε, ανάμεσα στα κομμάτια. Στη μέση του μέτρου, σε κλασικά δωδεκάμετρα, πέταγε και μια «γκρααααν» συγχορδία, βάζοντας και μια «μεγάλη εβδόμη», έτσι, για γαρνιτούρα! «Βαριέμαι, ρε παιδιά», είπε μια δεσποινίς, ντυμένη (που λέει ο λόγος) τολμηρά, η οποία προσπαθούσε να λικνιστεί στους ρυθμούς του Ντίλαν, αλλά «δεν της έβγαινε», καθότι ο ποιητής ήταν νωχελικός, σχεδόν νωθρός. Κάποιες στιγμές, ανάμεσα σε μια γουλιά νερό και ένα τσιγάρο, μπορούσα να κοιτάξω και λίγο γύρω μου. Μα, δεν είναι ο Ντίλαν «για χόρταση». Ποτέ δεν ήταν «θερμός» με το κοινό, ποτέ δεν είχε «γκελ», ποτέ δεν ενέδιδε σε «ανκόρ». Πάντα απρόσιτος, μοναχικός λύκος ήταν. Ουδέποτε απασχόλησε για κάτι εκτός από τα τραγούδια του. «Καθόλου δεν μου άρεσε. Δεν είπε τα καλά του κομμάτια», είπε ένας νεαρός, καθώς έφευγε με την παρέα του. «Εμένα μου αρκεί που τον είδα και που άκουσα τη φωνή του, έστω αυτή που του απόμεινε. Είδα από κοντά τον Μπομπ Ντίλαν, δικέ μου, το καταλαβαίνεις;», του είπε η συνοδός του, που θα ήταν-δεν θα ήταν δεκαοχτώ. Μου ήρθε να τη φιλήσω, αλλά άντε μετά να εξηγήσεις γιατί το έκανες...

Δ.Κ

Τα Παιδ(ε)ία παίζει… Θυμάμαι, το 1964, η κυβέρνηση του γέρο-Παπανδρέου, που είχε ανέλθει στην εξουσία με «προοδευτικό» μανδύα (ασχέτως του αν οι κεντρώοι ήταν και είναι οι μεγαλύτεροι εχθροί τη Αριστεράς) θέλησε, όπως όλοι, να αρχίσει την «αλλαγή» από την Εκπαίδευση. Έτσι, εμείς, οι μαθητές της Γ΄ Γυμνασίου, υποχρεωθήκαμε να δώσουμε εξετάσεις για το «Λύκειο», αφού ο τότε γραμματέας του υπουργείου Παιδείας, Ευ. Παπανούτσος, είχε εξαγγείλει ότι στην Ελλάδα θα εφαρμοσθεί το γαλλικό σύστημα του «Μπακαλορεά». Το τι πλάκα είχε γίνει με το «Μπακαλορεά» δεν λέγεται! Το πρώτο συνθετικό της λέξης, το «μπακαλο», μας έδωσε το έναυσμα και οι πλάκες διαδέχονταν η μια την άλλη. «Άντε, μπαγάσα, θα γίνεις και μπακαλόγατος τώρα» ή «το «Μπακαλο» το πιάνω, το «ρεά» τι σημαίνει;», ρωτούσαν οι μάγκες και η απάντηση ήταν: «Ρεά-ντε από ’δω!». Τέλος πάντων, τελειώσαμε την Γ΄ Γυμνασίου και δώσαμε εξετάσεις για να μπούμε στο Λύκειο. Αγωνία (προσωπικά δεν είχα ποτέ μου αγωνία για εξετάσεις παρά μόνο για τις ιατρικές) και μπήκαμε στο Λύκειο! Καμάρι, που πλέον πηγαίναμε στην Α΄ Λυκείου και θα περνάγαμε στα Πανεπιστήμια χωρίς εξετάσεις, με βάση τον βαθμό του απολυτηρίου μας! Κουραφέξαλα! Σε ελάχιστο χρόνο το «Μπακαλορεά» πήγε περίπατο και αποφοιτήσαμε ως μαθητές της Στ΄ Γυμνασίου και δώσαμε κανονικά εισαγωγικές στο Πανεπιστήμιο, αλλά εισαγωγικές και

όχι με συλλογή «εικοσαριών», όπως γίνεται σήμερα. Τότε, «το είκοσι το έβαζε μόνο ο Θεός», όπως έλεγαν οι καθηγητές μας. Δεν με ξενίζει, λοιπόν, καθόλου, που ο Λοβέρδος της Εργασίας και της Υγείας βρέθηκε στην Παιδεία και τα έβαλε με την Εκπαίδευση. Το υπουργείο Παιδείας έχει την μεγαλύτερη δόση «μεγαλείου» από όλα τα υπουργεία κι ας μην του φαίνεται. Εκεί, κάθε σου ενέργεια, ακουμπάει όλες τις Ελληνικές οικογένειες. Έχετε δει άλλη χώρα, στην οποία οι εισαγωγικές εξετάσεις στα Πανεπιστήμια να γίνονται πρώτο θέμα στα ΜΜΕ; Εδώ, ο υπουργός Παιδείας μπαίνει σε κάθε σπίτι. Άσε που έχουν πλέον συνδικαλιστεί όλοι οι γονείς και οι «Σύλλογοι Γονέων» των σχολείων αποτελούν εστίες συλλογής ψήφων, τις οποίες ο κάθε υπουργός προσπαθεί -με τον τρόπο του- να τις κερδίσει. Μη σας παραξενεύει, λοιπόν, που ο Ανδρέας «τα έβαλε» με τα φαντάσματα του υπουργείου του. Αφού αποκατέστησε τον …Ιωάννη τον Χρυσόστομο, τον Γρηγόριο τον Ναζιανζηνό και τον Μέγα Βασίλειο, τώρα θα κοιτάξει να δει τι «βολεύει» τους γονείς αλλά και τους «δεκαοχτάρηδες» που ψηφίζουν πριν καλά-καλά αποφοιτήσουν και θα φροντίσει να το κάνει. Δίκιο είχε ο (μεγάλος) Καραμανλής που ήθελε να κάνει υπουργούς Παιδείας εξωκοινοβουλευτικούς. Δεν το έκανε, όμως, ούτε εκείνος!

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Γδυσίματα... Παρατηρώ τις υποψήφιες σταρ ή έμπειρες πορνοστάρ, που βρίσκουν ευκαιρία με τις κατά καιρούς διακρίσεις των εθνικών ομάδων ποδοσφαίρου της πατρίδας τους και ανακοινώνουν εν χορδαίς: «Θα γδυθώ»! Τι λες, βρε παιδί! Σιγά την τέχνη! Επειδή, δηλαδή, οι συμπατριώτες σου διακρίθηκαν στον αθλητικό στίβο, εσύ θα ξεβρακωθείς δημοσίως! Από που ως που, άραγε, η επίδειξη των απόκρυφων σημείων του γυναικείου σώματος αποτελεί πανηγυρισμό; Σιγά τα ωά. Ευκαιρία για προβολή της κάθε «αδικημένης» ή της κάθε επιδιώκουσας προβολή είναι αυτές οι «εκδηλώσεις». Εγω ξέρω, ότι όταν κερδίσει η ομάδα σου, πετάς τη σκούφια σου, πετάς το καπέλο σου. Ότι πετάς το σουτιέν σου ή ότι πετάς το βρακάκι σου κατά γης, δεν το έχω ξανακούσει. Βεβαίως, υπήρξαν και

70 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

στο παρελθόν διάφορες σταρλετίτσες, κυρίως πληθωρικές, που καθιέρωσαν αυτή τη μέθοδο πανηγυρισμού, δηλαδή τη μέθοδο προσελκύσεως του κάθε λιγούρη ματάκια, που θα εξασφαλίσει στην κυρία με τα ξώστηθα και τα ξέκ..α την πολυπόθητη προβολή των ελάχιστων δευτερολέπτων. Φανταστείτε, δηλαδή, να καθιερωνόταν αυτός ο τρόπος «πανηγυρισμού». Θα χάναμε τον μπούσουλα! Ήρθε, λοιπόν, ο Γιώργος στην καφετέρια, με το κεφάλι κάτω και με κάτι μούτρα... να! «Καλά, τόσες μέρες ήσουν αισιόδοξος και έβαλες το κεφάλι στα σκέλια τώρα που νικήσαμε;», τον ρώτησα. «Όχι, βρε παιδιά, δεν έχω τέτοιο πρόβλημα. Άλλο είναι το πρόβλημά μου και είναι σοβαρό», απάντησε. Υποθέσαμε όλοι ότι κάτι σοβαρό, οικογενειακό μάλλον, του συμβαίνει. Η

ΣΧΟΛΙΑ ατμόσφαιρα βάρυνε απότομα. Από τακτ και μόνο δεν τον ρωτήσαμε περισσότερα. Παραγγείλαμε τον καφέ του και όταν άρχισε να δένεται με το περιβάλλον, του κάναμε την ερώτηση: «Έλα, λέγε τώρα. Τί τρέχει!». Μας κοίταξε λυπημένα. «Διαβάσατε στις εφημερίδες για την κοπέλα που γδύθηκε στο Σύνταγμα και μας τα έδειξε όλα επειδή κέρδισε η ομάδα μας την Ακτή;». Απαντήσαμε καταφατικά, αλλά ταυτόχρονα απορούσαμε για το ποια σχέση μπορεί να είχε η καλλίπυγος κοπέλα με τον φίλο μας. «Και εσένα γιατί σε πείραξε που γδύθηκε η κυρία;

Συγγενής σου είναι;», τον ρώτησε ο Νώντας. «Όχι, βρε παιδιά, αλλά η γυναίκα μου μου δήλωσε, ότι αν κερδίσουμε την Κόστα-Ρίκα θα γδυθεί και θα μου επιτεθεί με ανήθικους σκοπούς! «Πάλι τον κοιτάξαμε περίεργα. «Ε, και γι αυτό είσαι στενοχωρημένος;». Μας κοίταξε με νόημα. «Ε, λίγο το έχετε να θέλω πλέον να χάσει η εθνική μας;». Κοιτάξαμε ο ένας τον άλλον, έπεσε το σύνθημα και ο Γιώργος εισέπραξε το σχετικό «σύννεφο», για να μπουν τα πράγματα στη θέση τους...

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Έλα Βουλή στον τόπο σου! Το ότι διανύουμε περίοδο μεταβατική, είναι εκ των ων ουκ άνευ (και όχι «εκ των ουκ άνευ», που λέει ο Γιακουμάτος). Το ότι κατά την περίοδο αυτή χάνονται και θα χαθούν πολλά, εννοείται ευκόλως. Το θέμα, όμως, σε μια θεομηνία, σε ένα απρόσμενο πλήγμα, που σε πιάνει απροετοίμαστο, είναι να κατορθώσεις να βγεις από την δύσκολη κατάσταση, με τις όσο το δυνατόν λιγότερες απώλειες. Στη δική μας περίπτωση, ισχύουν όλα τα προαναφερθέντα, πλην του τελευταίου. Με δυο λόγια, η χώρα έκανε ό,τι μπορούσε «για να μπει με το κεφάλι» στα χρέη και τα μνημόνια. Αυτό το έχει αντιληφθεί ο πολίτης και δεν «τσιμπάει» στα δολώματα των κομμάτων. Είναι δε τόσο σοφή η τακτική των πολιτών, που έχει φέρει τους κρατούντες στα πρόθυρα της νευρικής κατάπτωσης. Έτσι, από τη μια η κυβέρνηση πανηγυρίζει τα σουλάτσα των Κινέζων κι από την άλλη ο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ ομολογεί ότι μέχρι τώρα …έπαιζε. Πως αλλιώς να εξηγήσεις το «τέρμα η πλάκα», που εκστόμισε ο Αλέξης; Καημένε Αλαβάνο, που να ήξερες τι έκανες όταν εμφάνιζες τον Τσίπρα ως «ταλέντο». Θυμάμαι τι μου είπε φίλος, όταν ο Αλέκος ανακάλυπτε τον Αλέξη. «Αλέκος- αμ’ έργον ! Θυμήσου ότι αυτός θα τον ξυρίσει!». Έχει, λοιπόν, ο κοσμάκης τα προβλήματά του. Φτάνει 20 ο μήνας κι αρχίζει η περιπέτεια. Έχει εξανεμισθεί ο μισθός, έχει φαγωθεί η κολοβή σύνταξη αλλά έχει μείνει απλήρωτη η ΔΕΗ και το ψυγείο είναι άδειο! Ναι, έτσι περνούν τα 70 στα εκατό σπίτια στην Ελλάδα του μνημονίου! Αρχίζεις τις «επαφές» για δανεικά, λες στο καφενείο «γράψ’ τα», ανοίγεις

τεφτέρι στο «Μίνι μάρκετ» και περιμένεις την πληρωμή, που θα φτάσει κι αυτή για είκοσι ημέρες. Και μέσα σε όλα αυτά, βλέπεις τους πολιτικούς στην τηλεόραση, να κελαηδάνε σαν αηδονάκια, λες και δεν τρέχει τίποτα! «Όλα θα πάνε καλά, αρκεί να τιμηθούν οι υπογραφές». Μα, ο Γιωργάκης, που τις έβαλε, μαζί με τον «Παπάκ», φαρδιές-πλατιές, απολαμβάνει ασυλίας και η υπόθεση της ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ πάει για «πνίξιμο»! Ο πορφυρογέννητος ολετήρας και η παρέα του, βρίσκονται στο απυρόβλητο. Εδώ, έπειτα από τρεις αναβολές για να εκφωνηθεί, ξεφύτρωσε δικαστική απόφαση, που θεωρεί ότι τα swaps προστίθενται στην τιμή των δανείων, μόνο και μόνο για να γλιτώσουν -επικαλούμενοι δεδικασμένο- ο ΓΑΠ και η συντροφιά του! Μας δουλεύουν, μου φαίνεται, συμπατριώτες. Στην διεθνή βιβλιογραφία και πρακτική, το swap είναι χωριστή συμφωνία, που ουδεμία σχέση έχει -και δεν μπορεί να έχειμε το συναπτόμενο, υπό οιανδήποτε μορφή, δάνειο. Εδώ, όμως, προκειμένου να γλιτώσουν ΓΑΠ και Σια και να μπει στο μούσκιο η υπόθεση ΕΛ. ΣΤΑΤ, αγνοήθηκαν οι διεθνείς κανόνες και υιοθετήθηκε η άποψη του …Πρωτόπαπα, που εκφράζεται σε ένα πόρισμα βουλευτών του ΠΑΣΟΚ (επί κυβερνήσεως ΓΑΠ), το οποίο, όμως, ουδέποτε έφθασε στην Ολομέλεια (άρα ουδεμία αξία και εγκυρότητα έχει), αλλά έφθασε ...στα Δικαστήρια! Έλα Βουλή στον τόπο σου!

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Σπανίως τρόλεϊ Η βενζίνη είναι πιο ακριβή κι από το χρυσάφι! Οι μισθοί και οι συντάξεις μειώνονται, όπως η θερμοκρασία τον χειμώνα. Η διάθεση για ποδαρόδρομο εντείνεται, αλλά το καλοκαίρι δεν προσφέρεται, ιδρώτας και ζέστη γαρ. Έτσι, καθώς το αυτοκίνητο παραμένει παρκαρισμένο μέχρι το Σαββατοκύριακο, παίρνεις την απόφαση να χρησιμοποιήσεις τα μέσα μαζικής μεταφοράς. Επειδή δε, τυγχάνει να κατοικείς στην πάλαι ποτέ «ακριβή» Καστέλα, την οποία εξυπηρετεί η γραμμή του τρόλεϊ, κατεβαίνεις στο «πέτρινο περίπτερο» και περιμένεις το κίτρινο όχημα. Αν είσαι τυχερός, μπορεί να περιμένεις είκοσι λεπτά. Αν δεν είσαι, μπορεί και παραπάνω! Μέχρι και σαράντα! Λες και η Καστέλα ξεχάστηκε από τον χάρτη, λες και επειδή εκεί έτυχε παλαιότερα να κατοικούν οι «φραγκάτοι» του Πειραιά, δεν χρειάζεται η συγκοινωνία. Μπορώ να σας πω ότι το παράπονο για τη …σπανιότητα του τρόλεϊ στην Καστέλα, είναι χρόνιο. Ουδείς, όμως, φαίνεται να το ακούει. Παλαιότερα, που η περιοχή ήταν πολύ λιγότερο κατοικημένη, την εξυπηρετούσαν δύο γραμμές. Το τρόλεϊ και το τραμ, που αργότερα έγινε λεωφορείο, το θρυλικό «17». Σήμερα, που στην περιοχή κατοικούν όλες οι κοινωνικές τάξεις, σήμερα, που η κρίση έχει καθηλώσει τα ιδιωτικά αυτοκίνητα, το τρόλεϊ έχει γίνει πιο δυσεύρετο και από το πετρέλαιο! Δοκιμάστε μια φορά να στα-

θείτε στη στάση, στην πλατειούλα της Εθνικής Τράπεζας. Θα δείτε τη «μονομαχία» των αναμενόντων με τους …ταξιτζήδες! Αράζουν τα ταξί λίγο πιο πέρα από το στέγαστρο και περιμένουν. Όσο το τρόλεϊ αργεί να έρθει, οι αναμένοντες το πολυπόθητο μέσο, κάνουν μέσα τους υπολογισμούς. «Πόσο κάνει το εισιτήριο του τρόλεϊ; Ένα ευρώ και σαράντα λεπτά. Το ταξί θα μου πάρει τρία και είκοσι. Τα έχω να τα δώσω; Μου περισσεύουν; Μήπως να πω σε έναν ακόμη από αυτούς που περιμένουν να πάρουμε ένα ταξί «μισό-μισό;», σκέπτεται ο ταλαίπωρος που περιμένει το κίτρινο μακρόστενο όχημα. «Τι θα κάνεις; Όσο δεν έρχεται το τρόλεϊ, τόσο πιο κοντά μου έρχεσαι εσύ! Άντε, τελείωνε, να κάνουμε σεφτέ!», σκέπτεται ο ταξιτζής. Αυτές οι «σιωπηλές αναμετρήσεις» είναι καθημερινές και για εμένα, που τρελαίνομαι να παρατηρώ ανθρώπους και αντιδράσεις, είναι απόλαυση. Μερικές φορές, έχω ρίξει την ιδέα για «ταξί μισό-μισό» αλλά μόνο μια φορά ανταποκρίθηκε μια κυρία από την απέναντι πολυκατοικία. «Δεν περισσεύει φράγκο», είναι συνήθως η απάντηση. Ας κάνουν κάτι οι υπεύθυνοι. Όποτε περάσω έξω από το αμαξοστάσιο, είναι γεμάτο τρόλεϊ! Άρα δεν υπάρχει έλλειψη οχημάτων. Γιατί, λοιπόν, το «κίτρινο» περνάει τόσο σπάνια όσο ο κομήτης του Χάλεϊ; Μπορεί να κάνει καλό ο ποδαρόδρομος, αλλά μέχρι τώρα είναι …προαιρετικός!

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IN MEMORIΑM

Ο καλός άνθρωπος Θωμάς Ζαφείρας Ο Θωμάς Ζαφείρας, που έφυγε από κοντά μας στις 28 Ιουνίου, ήταν ένας καλός άνθρωπος! Όσο κι αν αυτό φαίνεται απλό, είναι πολύ δύσκολο να το διατηρήσεις μέχρι το τέλος της ζωής σου. Ο Θωμάς ,μέχρι που έφυγε, ήσυχα κι απλά, παρέμεινε αυτό που ήταν από μικρός. Καλός άνθρωπος! Μεγαλωμένος σε περιβάλλον με περιορισμένες οικονομικές δυνατότητες, εργάσθηκε από παιδί, σπούδασε, σταδιοδρόμησε και αγάπησε τη Ναυτιλία. Η θητεία του στον Όμιλο του καπεταν Παναγιώτη Τσάκου, μια θητεία δεκαετιών, χαρακτηρίσθηκε από απλότητα, σύνεση, αγάπη, αλληλεγγύη, αλλά και αποτελεσματικότητα, δυναμικότητα και άμεση συμμετοχή στη λήψη δύσκολων αποφάσεων. Αν σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις μιλάμε για «το δεξί χέρι» κάποιου, στην περίπτωση καπεταν Παναγιώτη και Θωμά, μπορούμε να μιλήσουμε για «το καλό χέρι». Ας μου επιτραπεί να μιλήσω λίγο για τον Θωμά, που γνώρισα πριν πενήντα και πλέον χρόνια, ως υπάλληλο του Ιατρικού Συλλόγου Πειραιώς, όπου ο ιατρός πατέρας μου, ήταν γενικός γραμματέας για μια περίοδο. Εκεί, λοιπόν, γνώρισα τον Θωμά, που για τον πατέρα μου αποτελούσε «το υπόδειγμα του νέου που εργάζεται και σπουδάζει για να βοηθήσει την οικογένειά του» και από τον οποίο έπρεπε εμείς, τα παιδιά, να εμπνεόμαστε. Εκεί, γνώρισα και την Ειρήνη Σαρόγλου, μετέπειτα Τσάκου, μέλος του Δ.Σ του Συλλόγου, την οποία ο πατέρας μου αποκαλούσε «κομψοτέχνημα» και θεωρούσε «το πλέον δυναμικό νέο στοιχείο στον Σύλλογο». Τα υπόλοιπα, είναι Ιστορία. Ο καπεταν Παναγιώτης παντρεύτηκε την Ειρήνη, ο Θωμάς βρέθηκε κοντά τους και κατέστη ένα από τα πολυτιμότερα μέλη της μεγάλης οικογένειας του μεγάρου «Μακεδονία». Από τότε που βρέθηκα στο χώρο της ναυτιλιακής δημοσιογραφίας, ο Θωμάς υπήρξε πο-

72 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

λύτιμος. Τον συμβουλεύτηκα πολλές φορές και ήταν πάντοτε πρόθυμος να μου χαρίσει τον πολύτιμο χρόνο του. «Βρε σαν να βλέπω τον πατέρα σου», μου έλεγε και με χτυπούσε στον ώμο… Ο Θωμάς, ήταν από τους ανθρώπους που δεν ξέχασαν ποτέ από πού ξεκίνησαν. Όσοι τον γνώρισαν από κοντά, ξέρουν την προσφορά του σε ευαίσθητους τομείς της κοινωνίας. Δεν άκουσα ποτέ παράπονο για τον Θωμά, αν και τα παράπονα και τα «καρφιά» στο χώρο της Ναυτιλίας είναι προσφιλές σπορ! «Οι παλιοί φίλοι δεν αντικαθίστανται με όσους καινούριους κι αν βρεις», έλεγε και είχε δίκιο. Όταν η οικογένειά μου χρειάστηκε τη συμπαράστασή του, την είχε χωρίς να τη ζητήσει. Ο Θωμάς πέρασε από αυτή τη ζωή δημιουργικά και με βάση την Αριστοτέλεια ρήση, υπήρξε «Καλός καγαθός». Θα τον θυμόμαστε πάντα, ωραίο και ευσταλή, με το ψαθάκι του στην παραλία, να κοιτάζει τη θάλασσα και να λέει «Εδώ είναι η δύναμή μας, αλλά πού να το καταλάβουν οι πολιτικοί»… Καλοτάξιδος, Θωμά…

Δ.Καπ.

ΚΡΟΥΑΖΙΕΡΑ

Τρίτη σε δημοφιλία η Ελλάδα για τους επιβάτες κρουαζιέρας Στην τρίτη θέση, από πλευράς δημοφιλίας, ως τόπος προορισμού της κρουαζιέρας, βρίσκεται η Ελλάδα. Σε μια εποχή, που ο κλάδος της κρουαζιέρας διαδραματίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανάκαμψη της οικονομίας της Ευρώπης, για τη χώρα μας είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό να διατηρείται στις πρώτες θέσεις σε ότι αφορά την προτίμηση των ευρωπαϊκών λιμανιών από τους επιβάτες της κρουαζιέρας. Όπως αναφέρουν τα τελευταία στοιχεία της CLIA Ευρώπης, τα συνολικά έσοδα από την κρουαζιέρα στην Γηραιά Ήπειρο, έφθασαν το 2013 τα 39,4 δισ. ευρώ, ποσό που αποτελεί την καλύτερη επίδοση όλων των εποχών, όταν το 2012 το νούμερο ήταν στα 37,9 δισ. Όπως αναφέρουν τα στοιχεία: • Οι άμεσες δαπάνες που προέρχονται από τον κλάδο, έφθασαν τα 16,2 δισεκατομμύρια, έναντι 15,5 δισ. του 2012.

• Το 2013 η ευρωπαϊκή κρουαζιέρα συντήρησε 339.417 θέσεις εργασίας.

• Στα 10,5 δισ. ευρώ έφθασαν το 2013 οι απολαβές των εργαζομένων, σημειώνοντας αύξηση κατά 4% συγκριτικά με το 2012.

• Οι 43 εταιρείες κρουαζιέρας που εδρεύουν στην Ευρώπη, δραστηριοποιούνται με 125 κρουαζιερόπλοια χωρητικότητας περίπου 145.000 κλινών.

• Επιπλέον, 73 κρουαζιερόπλοια χωρητικότητας περίπου 104.000 κλινών έχουν δρομολογηθεί στην Ευρώπη από 24 μη ευρωπαϊκές εταιρείες κρουαζιέρας με 39.4 δισ. συνολικά έσοδα.

• Ο Πειραιάς είναι το πέμπτο πιο δημοφιλές λιμάνι εκκίνησης στην Ευρώπη (τέταρτος στη Μεσόγειο) - με διακίνηση 1,3 εκατ. επιβατών, σχεδόν 1% για το 2012.

• Τα ελληνικά λιμάνια κατατάσσονται ανάμεσα στα πιο δημοφιλή λιμάνια προσεγγίσεων στην Ευρώπη, με τη Σαντορίνη, την Κέρκυρα και τη Μύκονο, να καταλαμβάνουν τις 3 πρώτες θέσεις σε συνολικά 11 πιο δημοφιλή λιμάνια στην Ευρώπη.

• Ο τομέας της κρουαζιέρας δημιούργησε περισσότερες από 11.000 θέσεις εργασίας στην Ελλάδα το 2013. Στην ετήσια ανάπτυξη της βιομηχανίας κρουαζιέρας συνετέλεσαν κυρίως οι ακόλουθοι παράγοντες: • Η αύξηση της αγοράς των επιβατών από την Ευρώπη.

• Η κατακόρυφη αύξηση του αριθμού των επιβατών κρουαζιέρας που επιβιβάζονται από τα ευρωπαϊκά λιμάνια και • Η κυριαρχία των ευρωπαϊκών ναυπηγείων σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο. Όπως αναφέρει η έκθεση της CLIA για το 2014, υπολογίζεται ότι πέρυσι, 6.400.000 κάτοικοι της Ευρώπης, επέλεξαν για διακοπές την κρουαζιέρα (αύξηση 3,6% σε σχέση με το 2012) ποσοστό που αντιπροσωπεύει το 30% του συνόλου των επιβατών κρουαζιέρας σε όλο τον κόσμο. Η Ευρώπη αποτελεί ακόμη σημαντικό προορισμό για τους επιβάτες κρουαζιέρας και για τα κρουαζιερόπλοια από όλο τον κόσμο, προσελκύοντας μεγάλες τουριστικές επενδύσεις και αποφέροντας σημαντικά έσοδα.

• Ο αριθμός των επιβατών κρουαζιέρας που επιβιβάστηκαν το 2013 από ευρωπαϊκά λιμάνια, έφθασε τα 6.000.000 (αύξηση κατά 5,2% σε σχέση με το 2012). Περίπου 5.000.000 από αυτούς ήταν Ευρωπαίοι, ενώ το υπόλοιπο 1.000.000 προέρχεται από τρίτες χώρες.

• Τα ευρωπαϊκά ναυπηγεία, που χτίζουν σήμερα τα περισσότερα υψηλής αισθητικής και τεχνολογίας κρουαζιερόπλοια ανά τον κόσμο, σημείωσαν αύξη-

ση στα έσοδά τους κατά 4,7%.

• Το 2013, οι εταιρείες κρουαζιέρας δαπάνησαν συνολικά 4,03 δισ. σε νέες κατασκευές και αναβαθμίσεις κρουαζιεροπλοίων στην Ευρώπη, την δεύτερη ετήσια αύξηση μετά από μια περίοδο λιτότητας.

• Για το πρώτο εξάμηνο του 2014, τα ευρωπαϊκά ναυπηγεία, έχουν σε εξέλιξη συμβάσεις για την κατασκευή και παράδοση μέχρι το 2017, είκοσι τεσσάρων κρουαζιερόπλοιων, συνολικής αξίας 12,1 δισ. ευρώ. «Τα θετικά αποτελέσματα που επιτεύχθηκαν εφέτος, επαναβεβαιώνουν τη θέση της Ευρώπης ως ένα κομβικό επίκεντρο της παγκόσμιας βιομηχανίας κρουαζιέρας, που είναι η δεύτερη πιο σημαντική αγορά σε όλο τον κόσμο. Ο τομέας της κρουαζιέρας συνεχίζει να παράγει μεγάλα οικονομικά οφέλη για την Ευρώπη, ιδιαίτερα κατά τη διάρκεια αυτής της κρίσιμης περιόδου ανάκαμψης, προωθώντας την πολυπόθητη απασχόληση για τους ευρωπαίους πολίτες, καθώς και νέες προοπτικές για τις επιχειρήσεις και έσοδα για τα κράτη που την απαρτίζουν», δήλωσε ο Pierfrancesco Vago, πρόεδρος CLIA Ευρώπης. «Παρά τις δύσκολες οικονομικές συνθήκες του 2013, πάνω από 6 εκατ. Ευρωπαίοι απόλαυσαν την κρουαζιέρα το περασμένο έτος, περισσότερο από το διπλάσιο του αριθμού των επιβατών πριν από μια δεκαετία», υπογράμμισε ο Robert Ashdown, Γενικός Γραμματέας CLIA Ευρώπης. Σημειώνεται, επίσης, ότι η Ελλάδα διατηρήθηκε ως τρίτος κορυφαίος προορισμός στην Ευρώπη, με 4.600.000 επισκέψεις επιβατών το 2013. Τα ελληνικά λιμάνια, συμπεριλαμβανομένων και εκείνων της Σαντορίνης, της Κέρκυρας και της Μυκόνου, είναι από τα πιο δημοφιλή λιμάνια προσέγγισης στην Ευρώπη, ενώ ο Πειραιάς κατατάσσεται στην πέμπτη θέση μεταξύ των ευρωπαϊκών Home Port λιμανιών, με 1.300.000 επιβάτες, παρουσιάζοντας σχεδόν 1% αύξηση για το 2012. Το 2013, η άμεση οικονομική συνεισφορά της κρουαζιέρας στην Ελλάδα έφτασε τα 574.000.000 ευρώ, το έβδομο υψηλότερο στην Ευρώπη, ενώ ο τομέας της κρουαζιέρας δημιούργησε περισσότερες από 11.000 θέσεις εργασίας, παρά τις δυσκολίες που αντιμετωπίζει η ελληνική οικονομία, η οποία συρρικνώθηκε κατά 3,9% το 2013. «Με την απίστευτη πολιτιστική κληρονομιά και φυσική της ομορφιά, η Ελλάδα παραμένει μια πολύ σημαντική αγορά για την ευρωπαϊκή βιομηχανία κρουαζιέρας. Χάρη στα πρώτα σημάδια της οικονομικής ανάκαμψης στην Ελλάδα και τις πιο θετικές οικονομικές συνθήκες που διαμορφώνονται, είμαστε τώρα συγκρατημένα αισιόδοξοι για το μέλλον της ελληνικής κρουαζιέρας, η οποία έχει μία τεράστια δυναμική ανάπτυξης», δηλώνει ο Κυριάκος Αναστασιάδης, CEO της Louis Cruises και μέλος της Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής CLIA Ευρώπης.

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Spetses Classic Yacht Race 2014:

Σπονδή στην παράδοση Τιμήθηκαν ιδιαίτερα, τα παραδοσιακά σκάφη και ναυπηγεία, κατά τη διάρκεια του Classic Yacht Race, που διεξήχθη στις Σπέτσες από τις 19 έως τις 22 Ιουνίου 2014. Ο τέως βασιλιάς Κωνσταντίνος, απένειμε το βραβείο, το οποίο καθιερώθηκε εφέτος, στον Μανώλη Ψαρρό και το ναυπηγείο του, για τη συμβολή στην ανάπτυξη και διατήρηση της παραδοσιακής ναυπηγικής. Ο Μανώλης Ψαρρός, είναι Επίτιμος

Ο τέως βασιλιάς Κωνσταντίνος, Μαν. Ψαρρός και Οδ. Εσκιτζόγλου

Πρόεδρος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου του Ελληνικού Συνδέσμου Παραδοσιακών Σκαφών. Ο Στρατής Ανδρεάδης, επίσης μέλος του Συνδέσμου, νικητής του “Aegean Classic Schooner Class” με το τρεχαντήρι του «Στρατής», έκλεψε την παράσταση. Όταν του δόθηκε το κύπελλο, εκείνος έδωσε τα εύσημα για την απόδοση του σκάφους του στον Ντίνο Κορακή, ο οποίος το κατασκεύασε και του πρόσφερε το κύπελλο. Αυτή η όμορφη χειρονομία χειροκροτήθηκε απ’ όλους και ήταν η καλύτερη στιγμή της βραδιάς της βράβευσης. Στον Ντίνο Κορακή, ο Σύνδεσμος είχε ήδη απονείμει το βραβείο «Θεμιστοκλής» για την προσφορά του στην ναυπηγική τέχνη κατά την ημερίδα, που έλαβε χώρα στις 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2014 στον Ναυτικό Όμιλο Ελλάδος (ΝΟΕ). Άλλα μέλη του Συνδέσμου Παραδοσιακών Σκαφών που κέρδισαν βραβεία ήταν οι: Μανώλης Παντελής (Χριστίνα) Χριστίνα Σκυλλά (Χριστίνα) Νικόλας Ρηγινός (Φανερωμένη) Γ. Καλλίας (Κασσιόπεια) Ν. Καρακώστας (Αλκμήνη)

Στρ. Ανδρεάδης, Ντ. Κορακής και Ν. Λαμπαδάριος

Η AIGAION Ασφαλιστική χορηγός στο Insurance Conference 2014 H AIGAION Ασφαλιστική Α.Ε. συμμετείχε ως χορηγός στο Insurance Conference 2014 που διοργάνωσε και εφέτος η Ethos Media και πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Συνεδριακό Κέντρο της Εθνικής Ασφαλιστικής, στις 19 Ιουνίου 2014, υπό την αιγίδα της Ένωσης Ασφαλιστικών Εταιριών Ελλάδος και της Ένωσης Ασφαλιστικών Διαμεσολαβητών Ελλάδος. Μεγάλος αριθμός διαμεσολαβούντων και στελεχών της ασφαλιστικής αγοράς που παρακολούθησαν το συνέδριο, επισκέφτηκαν το εκθεσιακό περίπτερο της AIGAION και συνομίλησαν με στελέχη της εταιρίας. (από αρ.) Άρης Χριστόπουλος - Επιθεωρητής Πωλήσεων AIGAION, Λεωνίδας Παπαδόπουλος - Επιθεωρητής Πωλήσεων AIGAION, Σοφία Σαγιά - Υπεύθυνη Γραμματείας Διεύθυνσης Πωλήσεων ΑIGAION και Δημήτρης Κύρογλου - Eπιθεωρητής Πωλήσεων AIGAION

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Ελλάδα - Κύπρος

Σύμπλευση σε θέματα ναυτιλίας νεργασία για θέματα που άπτονται Το Προεδρείο της Κυπριακής ναυτιλιακής πολιτικής», τόνισε χαΈνωσης Πλοιοκτητών συνάντησε ο ρακτιριστικά ο κ. Βαρβιτσιώτης. Υπουργός Ναυτιλίας και Αιγαίου, Ιδιαίτερη αναφορά έγινε και στη Μιλτιάδης Βαρβιτσιώτης. Στη συνάντηση, η οποία πραγματοποισημασία που έχει η πρόσφατη ήθηκε στο πλαίσιο της Διεθνούς ομόφωνη υιοθέτηση της «ΔιακήΝαυτιλιακής Έκθεσης «Ποσειδώρυξης των Αθηνών», κατά την Άτυνια» παρέστη και ο Υπουργός Συγπη Υπουργική Σύνοδο των κρατών κοινωνιών και Έργων της Κυπριαμελών της ΕΕ και των Κρατών ΕΟΧ, κής Δημοκρατίας, Μάριος Δημηγια θέματα ναυτιλίας. «Με αυτήν τριάδης. την απόφαση, επαναπροσδιορίΚατά τη διάρκεια της συζήτη- Ο Μιλτιάδης Βαρβιτσιώτης με το Προεδρείο της Κυπριακής σαμε την Ευρωπαϊκή πολιτική στη σης, η οποία διεξήχθη σε άριστο Ένωσης Πλοιοκτητών Ναυτιλία μέχρι το 2020» , ανέφεκλίμα, οι δύο υπουργοί, καθώς ρε χαρακτηριστικά ο Υπουργός και οι θεσμικοί εκπρόσωποι των πλοιοκτητών, είχαν την ευκαιΝαυτιλίας και Αιγαίου, και συμπλήρωσε: «Έχουμε θέσει, πλέρία να επαναεπιβεβαιώσουν την εναρμόνησή τους σε ζητήμαον, ψηλά στην ευρωπαϊκή ατζέντα τη σημασία της Ναυτιλίας, τα διμερούς ναυτιλιακής συνεργασίας των δυο χωρών, καθώς καθώς και την ανάγκη διατήρησης της ανταγωνιστικότητάς της. και σε θέματα αμοιβαίου ναυτιλιακού ενδιαφέροντος. Πίστευα από την αρχή, ότι έπρεπε να τεθούν οι βάσεις για μία «Η σύμπλευσή μας σε ζητήματα ναυτιλίας που διαπιστώκαλύτερη συνεργασία με τον ΙΜΟ, ώστε να μην υιοθετούνται πενουμε σήμερα, δεν αποτελεί εξέλιξη των ημερών. Αποτελεί το ριφερειακές πολιτικές στη Ευρώπη, που δεν βοηθούν τον αναποτέλεσμα όλων των επαφών και των πρωτοβουλιών που ταγωνισμό σε ένα κατεξοχήν διεθνές και ανταγωνιστικό περιέχουμε λάβει τους προηγούμενους μήνες. Η Ελλάδα, η Κύπρος βάλλον, όπως της ναυτιλίας», κατέληξε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Βαρκαι η Μάλτα, εδώ και καιρό, έχουν αναπτύξει μια στενή συβιτσιώτης.

Η INTERMEPA γιόρτασε τα 8 χρόνια της Η Εκτελεστική Επιτροπή της Διεθνούς Ένωσης Προστασίας Θαλασσίου Περιβάλλοντος-INTERMEPA συνεδρίασε στη Μαρίνα

Φλοίσβου στις 5 Ιουνίου σε εορταστικό κλίμα, καθώς συμπληρώθηκαν 8 χρόνια από την ίδρυσή της την 6 Ιουνίου 2006. Ο εορτασμός αυτός είχε ιδιαίτερη σημασία διότι η επέτειος της INTERMEPA συνέπεσε με την Διεθνή Ναυτιλιακή Έκθεση «Ποσειδώνια». Τα μέλη της Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής, τα οποία παρευρέθηκαν στη συνάντηση ήταν οι Πρόεδροι και οι Διευθυντές των Ενώσεων της Αυστραλίας-AUSMEPA, της Κύπρου-CYMEPA, της Ελλάδας-HELMEPA, των ΗΠΑ-NAMEPA και της Ουκρανίας-UKRMEPA. Σύμφωνα με το Καταστατικό της Ένωσης, τα μέλη ομόφωνα επανεξέλεξαν τον Γ. Τσαβλίρη της CYMEPA ως Πρόεδρό τους και τον W. Norman της AUSMEPA Αντιπρόεδρο για την επόμενη διετία. Ακόμη, αποφάσισαν όπως ενισχύσουν τις προσπάθειές τους προς μία στενότερη συνεργασία μεταξύ των Παιδικών τμημάτων - «Junior» της κάθε Ένωσης. Περιβαλλοντικές ενημερωτικές πρωτοβουλίες νέων που θα πραγματοποιούνται σε κάθε χώρα θα μοιράζονται μεταξύ των MEPAs ενώ τα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης θα χρησιμοποιηθούν για την αποδοτικότερη διάδοση (Από αρ.) Ο Γραμματέας της INTERMEPA, Δημήτρης Κ. Μητσάτσος, ενημερωτικών υλικών και σχετικών μηνυμάτων. ο Ιδρυτής και Πρόεδρος της NAMEPA, Clay Maitland, ο Γενικός Γραμματέας της Η επόμενη συνεδρίαση της Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής αποφαCYMEPA, Δρ Μιχάλης Ιερείδης, ο Αντιπρόεδρος της UKRMEPA, o Καθ. Oleksandr σίστηκε να πραγματοποιηθεί στην Washington, με αφορμή τον Yatsenko, η Εκτελεστική Διευθύντρια της NAMEPA, Carleen Lyden-Kluss, εορτασμό της Εθνικής Ημέρας Ναυτιλίας στις ΗΠΑ, την 22 ο Πρόεδρος της UKRMEPA, Igor Karpenko, η Ναταλία Τσαντσαρίδη της HELMEPA και ο Νομικός Σύμβουλος της HELMEPA, Παναγιώτης Βρεττάκος Μαΐου 2015.

JULY AUGUST 2014 SHIPPING 75

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Αγιασμός στο «Neptune Thalassa» Τελετή αγιασμού του πλοίου “Neptune Thalassa”, που ύψωσε την Ελληνική Σημαία, πραγματοποιήθηκε παρουσία του Υπουργού Ναυτιλίας και Αιγαίου, Μιλτιάδη Βαρβιτσιώτη, από την ιδιοκτήτρια και διευθύνουσα σύμβουλο της εταιρείας του πλοίου «Neptune Lines Shipping & Managing Enterprises S.A», Μελίνα Τραυλού.

Αξίζει να επισημανθεί ότι το πλοίο “Neptune Thalassa” παρελήφθη τον Aπρίλιο του 2014 και έχει υψώσει ήδη την Eλληνική σημαία. Το “Neptune Thalassa” είναι ένα εξειδικευμένο πλοίο μεταφοράς οχημάτων, με μεταφορική ικανότητα επιφάνειας 31.000 τ.μ., που μπορεί να φιλοξενήσει μέχρι και 3.500 αυτοκίνητα, ενώ ταυτόχρονα διαθέτει προηγμένη τεχνολογία χειρισμών, που το καθιστά κατάλληλο για θαλάσσιες μεταφορές μικρών αποστάσεων “Short Sea Shipping”. Ο αριθμός των πλοίων της “Neptune Lines”, που εντάσσονται στο Εθνικό νηολόγιο φθάνει τα τέσσερα, με προοπτική περαιτέρω αύξησης. Η “Neptune Lines Shipping & Managing Enterprises S.A”, ηγέτιδα εταιρεία στον κλάδο θαλασσίων μεταφορών, εξυπηρετεί περισσότερα από 31 λιμάνια σε 18 χώρες της Μεσογείου και της Μαύρης Θάλασσας. Τα νεο-ενταχθέντα πλοία στο Εθνικό Νηολόγιο, “Neptune Thalassa” και “Neptune Galene”, είναι προηγμένης περιβαλλοντικής τεχνολογίας που οδηγεί σε βελτιωμένη ενεργειακή αποδοτικότητα και συμβάλλει στη μείωση του περιβαλλοντικού αποτυπώματος.

Υπό τα βλέμματα του Νίκου και της Μελίνας Τραυλού, ο υπουργός Ναυτιλίας, χαιρετάει τον καπετάνιο του πλοίου

Στον αγιασμό του πλοίου, ο οποίος τελέσθηκε από τον Πρωτοπρεσβύτερο πατέρα Δημήτριο Μπαλκανά, παρέστησαν, επίσης, οι υπουργοί Εθνικής Άμυνας, Δημήτρης Αβραμόπουλος και Διοικητικής Μεταρρύθμισης- Ηλεκτρονικής Διακυβέρνησης, Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης, η εφοπλιστική οικογένεια Τραυλού, ο Αρχηγός ΛΣ-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ, Αντιναύαρχος Αθανάσιος Αθανασόπουλος, ο Υπαρχηγός Α΄ ΛΣ-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ, Αντιναύαρχος Αθανάσιος Χονδρονάσιος, ο Υπαρχηγός Β΄ ΛΣ-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ, Αντιναύαρχος Βασίλειος Σιέττος, καθώς και φορείς της Εφοπλιστικής Κοινότητας και του Πειραιά.

Επιτυχής διάσωση Canadair από το ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ του Ομίλου Γκιγκιλίνη Η εταιρεία ΝΑΥΤΙΛΙΑΚΟΣ ΟΜΙΛΟΣ ΓΚΙΓΚΙΛΙΝΗ κλήθηκε, στις 5 Μαΐου, από την 383 Μοίρα Ειδικών Επιχειρήσεων & Αεροπυρόσβεσης (383ΜΕΕΑ)/113, να παράσχει υπηρεσίες διάσωσης και ρυμούλκησης του αεροσκάφους CL 415 (πυροσβεστικού) της Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας, το οποίο είχε ανατραπεί κατά την απόπειρα προσθαλάσσωσης για υδροληψία στην θαλάσσια περιοχή Αγγελοχωρίου Θεσσαλονίκης νωρίτερα την ίδια ημέρα, κατόπιν αδυναμίας του εντεταλμένου Ρ/Κ ασφαλείας, που εκτελούσε βάρδια εκείνη την ημέρα και που ανήκει σε άλλη εταιρεία, να παράσχει υπηρεσίες διάσωσης με επιτυχία παρά το γεγονός ότι βρισκόταν στο συμβάν από την πρώτη στιγμή. Η εταιρεία απέστειλε άμεσα στην περιοχή το Ρ/Κ πλοιοκτησίας της ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ (BHP 5.000, BP 75 tons). Ειδικότερα, όταν πλέον η άτρακτος του αεροσκάφους άρχισε

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να παρασύρεται πλησίον της ακτής και με κατεύθυνση νότια, δεδομένης της μέχρι τότε αδυναμίας του άνω ρυμουλκού ασφαλείας να προσφέρει υπηρεσίες συγκράτησης και διάσωσης, ενόψει πλέον της νύκτας και με ορατό τον κίνδυνο να βυθιστεί ή να χαθεί τελείως το αεροσκάφος, περί ώρα 19:00 της ίδιας ημέρας και κατόπιν συνεννόησης με τον Διοικητή Σμήναρχο κύριο Γρίβα Ζαχαρία λάβαμε εντολή το Ρ/Κ μας ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ να προσφέρει κάθε βοήθεια διάσωσης, όπως και έπραξε με απόλυτη επιτυχία και παρά το γεγονός ότι κλήθηκε με (5) ώρες καθυστέρησης. Το Ρ/Κ ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ ξεκίνησε τις υπηρεσίες στις 21.00 την 05.05.2014 σε συνθήκες φυσικού σκότους και με υψηλή επικινδυνότητα και ρίσκο, λόγω των αβαθών και των ρευμάτων, προσέγγισε ασφαλώς το αεροσκάφος και έδεσε επί αυτού, συγ-

REPORTAGE κρατώντας την άτρακτο με ασφάλεια στην θαλάσσια περιοχή που του υπεδείχθη από τους αρμόδιους φορείς της πολεμικής αεροπορίας, μέχρι την άφιξη πλωτού γερανού για την ανέλκυση στις 13.00 την επόμενη ημέρα 6 Μαΐου 2014. Το Canadair, παρά τους ισχυρούς ανέμους (ΒΔ 6-7 Β) που έπνεαν στην περιοχή, συγκρατήθηκε και παραδόθηκε ασφαλώς στον πλωτό γερανό από το Ρ/Κ ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ. Η συνεργασία του πληρώματος του ανωτέρου ρυμουλκού πλοίου και των υπευθύνων του στρατιωτικού προσωπικού υπήρξε άψογη και όλη η επιχείρηση πραγματοποιήθηκε με ασφάλεια όπως ορίζουν οι διεθνείς κανονισμοί. Η παρέμβαση του ρυμουλκού πλοίου ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ υπήρξε πράγματι καταλυτική και σωτήρια. Ο Όμιλος Γκιγκιλίνη ευχαριστεί την Πολεμική Αεροπορία για την άψογη συνεργασία και το πλήρωμα του ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝ ΙΙ γιατην ποιότητα των υπηρεσιών και τον επαγγελματισμό του, αλλά και την αυτοθυσία που επέδειξε για το εθνικό συμφέρον. Στις 11 Ιουνίου 2014, πραγματοποιήθηκε στην 383 Μοίρα Ειδικών Επιχειρήσεων & Αεροπυρόσβεσης τιμητική εκδήλωση, πα-

ρουσία του Διοικητή της Διοίκησης Αεροπορικής Υποστήριξης (ΔΑΥ), Υποπτεράρχου (Ι) Χρήστου Χριστοδούλου, κατά τη διάρκεια της οποίας ο Διοικητής ΔΑΥ επέδωσε τιμητικές πλακέτες και ιδιόχειρη ευχαριστήρια επιστολή στον Διευθύνοντα Σύμβουλο του Ομίλου, Αλέξανδρο Γκιγκιλίνη.

Η Φιλανθρωπία Νικητής του Ποδοσφαιρικού Αγώνα στο Μονακό Την παραμονή της έναρξης της σεζόν του Grand Prix Φόρμουλα 1, σημαντικές προσωπικότητες, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του Πρίγκιπα του Μονακό Αλβέρτου Β΄, έλαβαν μέρος στον φιλανθρωπικό αγώνα ποδοσφαίρου για την υποστήριξη του «Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation». Χορηγός της σημαντικής εκδήλωσης ήταν η Aegean. Ο αγώνας διεξήχθη στο Στάδιο «Louis II» και μεταδόθηκε απ’ ευθείας από το Sky Sports 1. «Είναι μεγάλη τιμή και προνόμιο Sergio Perez, Mario Di Natale, Κώστας Μαστοράκης και ο για την Aegean να είναι μέρος αυτού Το δεύτερο δώρο έκπληξη, μία μπλούζα Πρίγκιπας Αλβέρτος Β' του διεθνώς αναγνωρισμένου γεγο- με την Αγιά Σοφιά νότος. Η Aegean υποστηρίζει τους στόχους του Ιδρύματος. Επι1, Fernando Alonso, ο Felipe Massa με τη γυναίκα του Raffaela πλέον, η αποκλειστική χορηγία μας για τις πρωτοβουλίες της NaBassi, ο Daniil Kvyat, ο Sergio Perez και ο Jules Bianchi, συνοzionale Piloti είναι άμεσα ευθυγραμμισμένη με τις προσπάθειδευόμενος από τον πατέρα του Philippe Bianchi, ο πρωταθληές μας για να ενθαρρύνουμε την ασφαλή οδήγηση που αποτετή της Φόρμουλα 1 Riccardo Patrese, και οι Max Biaggi και Loλεί προτεραιότητα για την Aegean», δήλωσε εκ μέρους του χοris Capirossi. ρηγού ο Γ. Μελισσανίδης και εξέφρασε τις ευχαριστίες του προς Επίσης, συμμετείχαν πολλοί πρωταγωνιστές του αθλητικού κότον πρόεδρο της Nazionale Piloti, Mario Di Natale, για την σησμου, όπως οι οδηγοί της Ferrari Giancarlo Fisichella, Massimo μαντική υποστήριξή του κατά τη διάρκεια της συνεργασίας μεRivola και Emanuele Pirro, ο DTM και πρώην οδηγός της Φόρταξύ της Aegean και της Nazionale Piloti. μουλα 1 Vitaly Petrov, ο Maro Engel, ο Christian Montanari, ο Ο φιλανθρωπικός αγώνας, στον οποίο συμμετείχε η Nazionale σκιέρ Kristian Ghedina, ο Sandro Cois, ο τερματοφύλακας MatPiloti, είναι μέρος του αφιερώματος στον αξέχαστο πιλότο Ayrteo Munari, οδηγοί αγώνων όπως οι Luca Filippi, Gianmarco Raiton Senna. Πρόκειται για έναν αγώνα ποδοσφαίρου μεταξύ των mondo, Nathanael Berthon, Stephane Richelmi, Kevin Ceccon, ομάδων Nazionale Piloti και Scuderia Ferrari Club.

Stefano Coletti, Johnny Cecotto, Raffaele Marciello και Ricardo Εκτός από τον Πρίγκιπα του Μονακό Αλβέρτο Β΄, συμμετείχαν Teixeira καθώς και ο οδηγό της FIA European F3 Series, Riccarο τενίστας Novak Djokovic, ο διάσημος οδηγός της Φόρμουλα do Agostini.

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Ο John Danilovich, νέος Γενικός Γραμματέας στο ICC Στην Γενική Συνέλευση του International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), που πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 27 Ιουνίου 2014 στη Γενεύη, νέος Γενικός Γραμματέας του ICC εξελέγη ο John Danilovich, μια παγκόσμια προσωπικότητα των επιχειρήσεων και της διεθνούς διπλωματίας. Στη Γ.Σ.

O νέος Γενικός Γραμματέας του ICC, συμμετείχε ο Πρόεδρος του ICC J. Danilovich με τον Πρόεδρο του ICC Ελλάς, Νικόλαος Α. Βερνίκος. Ελλάς, Ν.Α. Βερνίκο Ο κ. Danilovich είναι ένας διεθνούς κύρους επιχειρηματίας με μεγάλη εμπειρία σε θέματα που αφορούν το εμπόριο. Έχει επίσης μακρά σταδιοδρομία ως διεθνής διπλωμάτης. Ο κ. Danilovich δραστηριοποιείται στην διεθνή ναυτιλιακή βιομηχανία για αρκετές δεκαετίες και κατέχει θέσεις στα Διοικητικά Συμβούλια μιας σειράς εταιρειών. Υπηρέτησε ως πρέσβης των ΗΠΑ στη Βραζιλία και στην Κόστα Ρίκα και την περίοδο 2005-2009 ήταν ο Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος της Millennium Challenge Corporation, ενός καινοτόμου και επιτυχημένου προγράμματος εξωτερικής βοήθειας.

Είναι μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της Διεθνούς Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής στη Σχολή Δημόσιας Υγείας του Χάρβαρντ, Σύμβουλος στο Κέντρο Διεθνών & Στρατηγικών Σπουδών (Washington, DC), Ισόβιο μέλος του Συμβουλίου Εξωτερικών Σχέσεων (New York), Μέλος του Γνωμοδοτικού Συμβουλίου Βόρειας Αμερικής του Chatham House (Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο) και μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της d'Amico International Shipping. Ως Πρεσβευτής των ΗΠΑ στην Κόστα Ρίκα (2001-2004), ο κ. Danilovich έπαιξε σημαντικό ρόλο στην προώθηση της Συμφωνίας Ελεύθερου Εμπορίου Κεντρικής Αμερικής (CAFTA). Έχει εξειδικευση στη δημιουργία διεθνών συνεργασιών και έχει δημιουργήσει σχέσεις χάραξης πολιτικής με αξιωματούχους και ηγέτες των μεγάλων διεθνών φόρα, ενώ είναι αποδέκτης πολλών εθνικών και διεθνών βραβείων. Καταγόμενος από την Καλιφόρνια-ΗΠΑ, ο κ. Danilovich ήταν για πολύ καιρό κάτοικος Λονδίνου, πριν μετακομίσει στο Παρίσι για να συμμετάσχει στις εργασίες του ICC. Έχει μεταπτυχιακό στις Διεθνείς Σχέσεις από το Πανεπιστήμιο της Ν. Καλιφόρνιας (1981) και πτυχίο στις Πολιτικές Επιστήμες από το Πανεπιστήμιο του Στάνφορντ (1972). Ο κ. Danilovich και η γεννημένη στην Αγγλία σύζυγός του Ειρήνη, έχουν τρία παιδιά.

ΟΛΠ: Ανανέωση θητείας του Συμβουλίου Κατά την Τακτική Γενική Συνέλευση των μετόχων του Οργανισμού Λιμένος Πειραιώς Α.Ε., στην οποία παρέστη το 85% των μετόχων και εκπροσώπων μετόχων, (25.000.000 κοινές μετοχές) με κύρια θέματα Ημερησίας Διάταξης την έγκριση των ετήσιων οικονομικών καταστάσεων 2013 (01.01.2013 – 31.12.2013), καθώς και της ΄Eκθεσης Ελέγχου των Ορκωτών Ελεγκτών Λογιστών, ενεκρίθησαν όλα τα θέματα της Ημερήσιας Διάταξης, τα οποία εισηγήθηκε το Δ.Σ. του Οργανισμού. Ακολούθως, έγινε ανανέωση της θητείας των μελών του υφι-

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στάμενου Συμβουλίου, βάσει του άρθρου 7 παρ. 3 του Καταστατικού του ΟΛΠ, το οποίο συγκροτείται πλέον σε Σώμα ως ακολούθως: Ανωμερίτης Γεώργιος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, Πρόεδρος και Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος, εκτελεστικό μέλος Πετρουλής Παναγιώτης Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, Αναπληρωτής Διευθύνοντος Συμβούλου, εκτελεστικό μέλος Παπαδόπουλος Γεώργιος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, ανεξάρτητο μέλος Νάκης Νικόλαος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, ανεξάρτητο μέλος Παπαηλίας Νικόλαος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Ζησιμόπουλος Άγγελος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Τσιρίδης Γεώργιος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Γεωργίου Βασίλειος Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Αργυροπούλου Ελισσάβετ Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Μουστάκη Ειρήνη Εκπρ/πος Μετόχων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Γεωργακόπουλος Γεώργιος Εκπρ/πος Υπαλλήλων, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Γεωργίου Νικόλαος Εκπρ/πος Λιμενεργατών, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος Μιχαλολιάκος Βασίλειος Εκπρ/πος Δήμου, Δήμαρχος Πειραιά, μη εκτελεστικό μέλος

REPORTAGE

Συνάντηση συνεργασίας ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. και COSCO GROUP Συνάντηση συνεργασίας μεταξύ ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. και COSCO GROUP, διοργανώθηκε στην κεντρική αίθουσα συσκέψεων του Οργανισμού, παρουσία των Προέδρων των δύο εταιριών, Γιώργου Ανωμερίτη και Ma Zehua. Στη συνάντηση εξετάσθηκαν τα θέματα συνεργασίας ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. και ΣΕΠ Α.Ε., η οποία αποτελεί τον διαχειριστή (operator) των Προβλητών II και ανατολικού III του Σταθμού Εμπορευματοκιβωτίων του ΟΛΠ στο Πέραμα, καθώς και η πορεία της Σύμβασης Παραχώρησης του 2009, όπως αυτή έχει αναθεωρηθεί βάσει φιλικών διακανονισμών. Στη σύσκεψη έλαβαν μέρος, από πλευράς ΟΛΠ Α.Ε., ο αναπληρωτής Δ/νων Σύμβουλος, Παν. Πετρουλής, ο Γενικός Δ/ντής, Σταύρος Χατζάκος, ο Δ/ντής Νομικών Υπηρεσιών, Ανδρέας Μαμαγκάκης και ο Δ/ντής Διοίκησης, Δ. Σπύρου. Από πλευράς COSCO παραβρέθηκαν ο Liu Xianghao, Γεν. Δ/ντής της COSCO, ο Fu Haichao, Πρόεδρος της COSCO EUROPE, ο cpt. Ju Weiping, Δ/νων Σύμβουλος της COSCO HELLAS, o Qiu Jinguang, Αντιπρόεδρος της COSCO PACIFIC, ο capt. Fu ChengQiu, Δ/νων Σύμβουλος της ΣΕΠ Α.Ε και ο Γενικός Δ/ντής της COSCO HELLAS, Άγγελος Καρακώστας.

Και οι δύο πλευρές εξέφρασαν την ικανοποίησή τους για το επίπεδο συνεργασίας που έχει επιδειχθεί, αναμένοντας την ολοκλήρωση και των συμφωνημένων διαδικασιών για τον Β΄ Φιλικό Διακανονισμό του 2013, ο οποίος θα διευρύνει τις επιχειρηματικές δυνατότητες των δύο πλευρών. Ο Ma Zehua μετέφερε προς τον κ. Ανωμερίτη τους θερμούς χαιρετισμούς και του πρώην Προέδρου της COSCΟ cpt. Wei Jiafu, με τον οποίο πρωτοϋπογράφτηκε το 2002 το πρώτο ΜΟU συνεργασίας Ελλάδας-Κίνας και ΟΛΠ-COSCO.

Σύνοδος των Port Directors των Ευρωπαϊκών Λιμανιών στον Πειραιά Στην ετήσια Σύνοδο των Port Directors των Ευρωπαϊκών Λιμανιών, την οποία διοργανώνει η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή (Γενική Διεύθυνση Μεταφορών) και συμμετείχαν 35 στελέχη των Port Authorities από τις περισσότερες ευρωπαϊκές χώρες, μίλησαν ο Γενικός Γραμματέας Λιμένων, Λιμενικής Πολιτικής και Ναυτιλιακών Επενδύσεων του ΥΝΑ, Θανάσης Χριστόπουλος, ο

Δ/ντής της Ε.Ε., Olivier Onidi, οι επικεφαλής των Τομέων των Γ.Δ.

Comp, Move και Markt, J. Luecking, D. Theologitis, και J. Szychowska, εκ μέρους του ΟΛΠ ο Γενικός Δ/ντής, Σταύρος Χατζάκος, στελέχη του ΥΝΑ. Ο Πρόεδρος και Δ/νων Σύμβουλος του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε., Γιώργος Ανωμερίτης, αφού καλωσόρισε τα μέλη των Αρχών Λιμένων και τα στελέχη της Ε.Ε., αναφέρθηκε ιδιαίτερα στα θέματα του κοινωνικού διαλόγου με τις πόλεις και τους φορείς της κοινωνίας, καθώς και στα θέματα λειτουργίας Αρχών Λιμένων και Διαχειριστών, ενώ στη συνέχεια παρέθεσε δείπνο προς τιμή των μελών της συνόδου και της Ε.Ε. Τα κύρια θέματα της Συνόδου ήταν οι κρατικές ενισχύσεις στα λιμάνια, το νομικό πλαίσιο των Συμφωνιών Παραχώρησης στο πλαίσιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Λιμενικής

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REPORTAGE Πολιτικής, τα θέματα περιβάλλοντος, υποδομών, ενέργειας και καινοτομίας, ενώ στην απογευματινή συνεδρίαση κυριάρχησαν τα θέματα των Διευρωπαϊκών Δικτύων (ΤΕΝ-Τ) και του απαιτούμενου κοινωνικού διαλόγου των λιμένων με φορείς της πόλης, χρήστες και διαχειριστές. Η Σύνοδος, στην οποία συμμετείχαν επίσης εξέχουσες προσωπικότητες του πανεπιστημιακού χώρου, στελέχη της Ευρω-

παϊκής Επιτροπής και του ΥΝΑ, ολοκλήρωσε τις εργασίες της υποβάλλοντας μετά το διάλογο που ανεπτύχθη τα συμπεράσματά της στην Ε.Ε. Εν τω μεταξύ, οι επικεφαλής των Port Authorities και τα στελέχη της Ε.Ε., είχαν την ευκαιρία να επισκεφθούν την προηγούμενη ημέρα όλες τις εγκαταστάσεις του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. και της ΣΕΠ Α.Ε., συνοδευόμενοι από τα αρμόδια στελέχη του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε.

Το “REGAL PRINCESS” στον Πειραιά Το νεώτερο κρουαζιερόπλοιο του κόσμου, το “REGAL PRINCESS”, υποδέχθηκαν και επισήμως στο Λιμάνι του Πειραιά η Διοίκηση του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. και φορείς της ναυτιλίας. Στην εκδήλωση που έγινε επί του πλοίου, τους καλεσμένους υποδέχθηκε ο Πλοίαρχος Edward Perrin και οι αξιωματικοί του, ανταλλάσσοντας προσφωνήσεις και αναμνηστικά δώρα με τον Πρόεδρο και Δ/ντα Σύμβουλο του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε., Γιώργο Ανωμερίτη, τον Πρόεδρο της MedCruise, Σταύρο Χατζάκο και τον Πρόεδρο της Ε.Ε.Κ.Φ.Ν., Θ. Κόντε. Ο πλοίαρχος Edward Perrin εξέφρασε την ικανοποίησή του για τις υψηλής ποιότητας υπηρεσίες που προσφέρει πλέον ο ΟΛΠ Α.Ε., καθώς και την εκτίμησή του για τη χώρα μας ως κέντρου κρουαζιέρας. Ο ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. τίμησε επίσης με ειδική πλακέτα την εταιρία INCHCAPE SHIPPING SERVICES, που εκπροσωπεί την PRINCESS, η οποία ως γνωστό αποτελεί μια εκ των εταιριών του ομίλου της CARNIVAL. To REGAL PRINCESS ναυπηγήθηκε στην Ιταλία και καθελκύσθηκε τον Μάιο του 2014. Έχει μήκος 330 μ., 18 καταστρώματα, ζυγίζει 142.714 τόνους, διαθέτει πλήρωμα 1.350 ατόμων και μπορεί να φιλοξενήσει 3.560 επιβάτες σε 1.780 καμπίνες. Όπως δήλωσε ο κ. Ανωμερίτης μετά την τελετή υποδοχής: «Ο ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. παρέχει υψηλής ποιότητας υπηρεσίες με διεθνείς πιΟ Γιώργος Ανωμερίτης με τον Πλοίαρχο Edward Perrin στοποιήσεις σε κάθε είδους και μεγέθους κρουαζιερόπλοια. Ήδη σήμερα στο λιμάνι εξυπηρετούνται ταυτόχρονα με τα άλλα, δύο ρήνης, προσελκύοντας και πάλι μέσα από πεδία νέων υποδοαπό τα μεγαλύτερα κρουαζιερόπλοια του κόσμου μήκους 330 μών και ποιότητας υπηρεσιών, μεγάλο αριθμό κρουαζιερόμ. Η κρουαζιέρα αποτελεί πλέον κεντρικό τομέα δραστηριότηπλοιων και επιβατών”. τας του ΟΛΠ Α.Ε. με σταθερή εξυπηρέτηση μετά το 2009, 2.000.000 και άνω επιβατών ετησίως. Μέσα σε μια δεκαετία, Αφίξεις - Αναχωρήσεις επιβατών κρουαζιέρας από το 2004, χρονιά των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων, όπου οι αφιξο2004 -2013 στο Λιμάνι του Πειραιά αναχωρήσεις ήταν 662.357 επιβάτες, το 2013 έφθασαν τους 2.296.457. Χαιρόμαστε ΕΤΟΣ ΕΠΙΒΑΤΕΣ ιδιαίτερα γιατί, σήμερα, 2004 662.357 από τους 9.360 επιβάτες των κρουαζιερόπλοιων 2005 819.853 νέας γενιάς, οι 2.400 εί2006 1.202.093 ναι επιβάτες home port2007 1.554.747 ing, που επέλεξαν δηλαδή το Λιμάνι του Πει2008 1.806.583 ραιά για επιβίβαση – 2009 2.028.006 αποβίβαση. Το 2014 πα2010 1.864.657 ρά την κρίση στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Αν.

2011 2.517.371 Μεσογείου, η Ελλάδα κι 2012 2.066.925 ο Πειραιάς παραμένον 2013 2.296.457 ζώνες ασφάλειας και ει-

80 SHIPPING JULY AUGUST 2014

JULY-AUGUST 2014

SHIPPING

58th Year

Period B No 508