Category: GREECE

News about Greece

Getting ready for the biggest celebration of the Greek Shipping Sector

Posidonia is a firm fixture for the global shipping industry and one of the sector’s largest gathering every two years in Greece, providing direct access to Greek shipping and the Greek owned fleet, which continues to grow impressively, remaining at the top of global ranking. According to data from the previous Posidonia event (2014), of some 700 shipping companies based in the Athens area, about 70 companies run fleets of 1m dwt (deadweight tonnage) or above.

This year’s Posidonia, which will run from June 6 to 10 at the Metropolitan Expo centre next to Athens International Airport, is set to host 19 national stands with the biggest participant being China, followed by Japan and South Korea. Following 2014’s record numbers, this year’s event is expected to be the biggest ever and to contribute some 60 million euros to the Greek economy in revenues mainly from hosting thousands of people, construction of stands, customs and forwarding, corporate events and other activities.

Despite the many challenges faced by the Hellenic and the International Maritime Community, especially during 2015 and at the beginning of 2016, Greece has continued to strengthen its position as the largest ship owning country, landing the top spot in 2016, with a fleet size of 196m gt and with Greek owners having a global market share of 16% by gt (followed by Japan 13%- China-11% and Germany 7%).

At the end of 2014, orders stood at $29bn, and around 550 ships totaled 50m dwt. Deliveries from 94 entities averaged two ships per week, accounting for 11.5% of the world’s orderbook. That included some 39 LNG carriers.

Greek owners rank first in terms of both new tonnage and new-built fleet value, bringing vessel ages well below the international average. The Greek presence in the S&P markets also continued apace, accounting for nearly 40% of the global investment in secondhand ships, again placing Greek owners in the top position, while together with the new, investment in the Greek fleet amounts to 12 billion dollars. In the first months of 2016, the Greek owned maritime companies have invested 747,6 million dollars for the purchase of 56 vessels, and according to Allied Shipbroking data, Greeks have spent 1/5 of the total sum spent globally, leaving Saudi Arabian investors in the second place with investments of 411,5 million dollars. Behind that growth is a multi-billion dollar order book for shipbuilders, ships equipment suppliers, technology, services and management companies, shipbrokers, insurance and finance.

With this data in mind, it is fair to say that the excitement in the Hellenic Maritime Community is well justified for this year’s exhibition. However, Posidonia is more than an exhibition. Posidonia week also includes an extended conference, seminars and technical workshops programme. Chaired by industry leaders, there will be lively discussions and debates on issues, challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Posidonia 2016 will again host the Tradewinds Shipowners Forum. Also, a highly popular part of the Posidonia business social mix, the games appeal to the competitive nature of shipping professionals but in a spirit of friendly rivalry. The Posidonia Games programme includes the exciting Posidonia Cup yacht race, the hugely popular five-a-side Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, the Posidonia Golf Tournament and the new addition to the Posidonia programme, the Posidonia Running Event. The agenda will further include presentations of new products and technologies, discussions on current shipping issues, new environmental regulations and other significant matters.

(greeknewsagenda.gr)

May 31, 2016
Greece earns third place worldwide in Blue Flag certification

Greece has earned fourth place in Europe with regard to the quality of its bathing waters for this year, according to data published by the European Environment Agency on Tuesday. The report noted that 97.2 percent of areas inspected were deemed to be outstanding.

The organization also announced that the country was positioned third worldwide in terms of Blue Flag certification, with 430 beaches and 9 marinas for 2016.

The agency’s annual report evaluates the quality of the water from last year and highlights areas where this is expected to be maintained in the current year.

Over 1,500 bathing areas, including beaches, lakes and rivers, were inspected last year, out of which 1,499 were defined as top quality spots for swimming, the report said.

(www.ekathimerini.com)

May 31, 2016
Greek Day celebrates culture, cuisine of Egypt’s Mediterranean neighbour

Greek culture has had a presence in Egypt for centuries, for as long as Greeks have been living in Egypt, particularly in Alexandria.

Geographically, Egypt is close to Greece, and both Mediterranean countries have a lot in common.

To mark Greek National Day, the Community Services Association (CSA), in cooperation with the Greek Cultural Center in Egypt, organised an event on 15 April in Maadi called Greek Day.

Entrance to the event was free, and participants were welcome to join in celebrating Greek culture by tasting Greek food and dance performances and Greek-themed activities.

Delicious Greek cuisine was available, including “gyros” and “souvlaki”, which was served by The Greek, a restaurant located in Maadi. Wadi Food offered samples of their home-grown products that Greece is famous for, including homemade olive oil.

Greek music played throughout the event and the following dances were performed by the Greek Youth in Cairo: Sirtaki, Zorba, Kalamatiano, Frangosiriani, Ikariotikos and Pendozali.

Travco Holidays was there to promote travel to Greece and presented their vacation offers. Two festival goers won trips offered by Travco, including two free tickets to the Greek island of Mykonos.

(www.dailynewsegypt.com)

May 18, 2016
Abandoned life jackets in Lesbos giving new hope to refugees

Life jackets are a poignant symbol of the refugee crisis in Greece. Thousands of them which had been abandoned on the beaches of Lesbos are now giving life to a new project which will help the people who once wore the vests while also addressing a huge environmental problem.

Jai Mexis and his partner Irene Psifidi returned home to Greece after university in the UK with a desire to help and have founded Odyssea. It is an NGO which aims to find a long term solution to the thousands of abandoned life jackets.

“The whole story started very spontaneously, when I visited Lesbos. I tried to find a solution to the environmental problem. It was more of an experiment. An attempt to show that young Greeks can return to their country, that we can create something, even from garbage,” explained Jai Mexis.

The beaches of Lesbos are where thousands of refugees first land. Their life jackets are left abandoned in the sand. In Turkey the vests can cost anything between 50 and 200 euros. Many of them are not fit for purpose.

Jai Mexis was serving meals to refugees with a volunteer group on Lesbos when he began creating temporary shelters out of flotsam and jetsam from old boats. Thus an idea was born.

Now his NGO runs workshops with refugees and volunteers, where they create bags and mattresses which provide immediate relief to refugees.

He is joined by volunteers, many of them refugees who are living in shelters in Athens.

“At first, refugees do not speak. They are afraid as they don’t know what they will face. Of course, they are familiar with the life jackets, they have used them to get here from Turkey. To some extent, they have overcome this dreadful experience and want to experiment with them,” Irene Psifidi the NGO coordinator told Euronews.

Roheen Muradi from Afghanistan lost his mother in the Aegean Sea as they tried to get to Lesbos from Turkey. Fourteen refugees were on the boat, 11 drowned, his mother was among those who perished.

“When I see the life jacket, I become so sad and I start to cry. In this life jacket I see my mother. When the Greek coast guard rescued some of us, they told me that they couldn’ t find my mother. They couldn’t find her body in the sea,” he recounted.

The many items created here are sold to generate funds for both refugees and locals on the Greek islands. One of the ambitions is to raise enough money to buy a mobile medical unit for the people of Lesbos. Next month all the products will be available online.

Euronews correspondent Apostolos Staikos reported from Athens:

“And this is just the beginning. The aim is to start a small factory in Lesbos, which will create bags and other items from the abandoned life jackets. If the plan goes ahead, 50% of the employees will be locals and 50% refugees. For this to happen, refugees must obtain the right to work in Greece”.

(www.euronews.com)

May 18, 2016