With the aim to create a framework for a stable dialogue between the academic community and the Greek shipping industry the 2nd Chios Shipping Summit took place at the Aegean University premises on June 20th-21st.
Prof. Dimitrios Papageorgiou, Rector, University of the Aegean opened the proceedings of the conference.
Stefanos Gkikas, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, in his speech, expressed the support of the ministry to the island of Chios with a regular coastal ferry connection and the organization of yacht races. He referred to the actions of the ministry for the decarbonization of shipping and the efforts to protect the Greek owned fleet from military conflicts in several world’s sea passages such as the Black and Red Seas and the Straits of Hormuz.
Stavros Michailidis, Member of the Greek Parliament for Chios expressed his concerns and blamed the ministry of lacking a maritime policy as the number of ships registered in the Greek registry does not exceed 500.
Prof. Seraphim Kapros, Head of the Dept of Shipping, Trade & Transport, University of the Aegean, stated in his welcome address that the University of Chios has published 92 books and operates two postgraduate programs and is ranked 4th among 35 universities.
Key-note speaker was John Xylas, Chairman, Intercargo & Treasurer, Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) Board of Directors, who described the geopolitical challenges and highlighted on the decarbonization process in shipping.
He said that the dry cargo shipping sector is particularly volatile due to its nature and complexity. He called on the European Union to adopt measures that increase competitiveness and enhance sustainability.
The European Union should learn from previous lessons in the shipbuilding industry and proceed with measures to support the European fleet in order to ensure its economic and energy sufficiency. In this context, the Union should adopt the IMO measures and not follow unrealistic policies in the field of decarbonization.
Mr. Xylas referred to the difficulties of producing alternative fuels for maritime use such as ammonia methanol and biofuels, stressing that in the medium term there will be no realistic solution to this issue.
Mr. Xylas told that the decarbonization goals are quite optimistic and do not take into account the complexity and nature of shipping.
He also referred to the carbon capture systems and other solutions such as nuclear energy. In this uncertain environment, shipping is taking steps to improve its energy efficiency and called on the IMO to invest in innovation through the net zero fund. In conclusion, he expressed his optimism for the collaboration between the academic community and shipping, which can lead to the transformation of challenges into opportunities.
A discussion between important personalities of the shipping industry on the topic of “Geo-economics and the Impact on Shipping” followed.
The discussion was moderated by Helen Thanopoulou, Professor, University of the Aegean and was attended by: H.E. Matthew Lodge - His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, British Embassy, Dr. Dimitrios Fafalios - Secretary, Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) Board of Directors & Fafalios Shipping S.A., Johannes Kock - Director, Container Gr Inc.
The speakers attributed the cause of the crisis in the Persian Gulf to the terrorist actions against Israel with the support of Iran.
The next panel discussed the following topic: Leveraging Shared Experience to Advance Maritime Efficiency (tbc).
Prof. Chengi Kuo - Emeritus Professor, Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde and Antonis Faraklas - CEO, Chartworld Shipping Corporation raised the issue of AI.
Professor Kuo has taught many generations of naval architects to think out of the box and has influenced many graduates with his vision.
Mr. Antonis Faraklas CEO of Chartworld Shipping, who has graduated from the University on 1978, invited him to speak about AI and computer applications in shipping.
Prof Kuo stated that he is confident that the new generations of naval architects will take advantage of AI and computer technology to develop a better world and find innovative solutions for all issues that the shipping industry faces today.
The topic of the next panel was Energy efficiency and decarbonization challenges.
The discussion was moderated by the following speakers: Orestis Schinas, Associate Professor, University of the Aegean, Dr. Georgios Pateras - Deputy Chairman, Contships Management Inc., Jeroen Pruyn - Associate Professor, TU Delft, Antonis Faraklas - CEO, Chartworld Shipping Corporation, Stavros Hatzigrigoris - Advanced Engineering Services & ZODIAC Maritime, Spyridon Zolotas - Vice President, RINA, Vassilios Dimoulas Technology & Innovation Director – East Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, India & Africa, Bureau Veritas.
Dr. George Pateras told that the only way to reduce air emissions is to take operational measures and he stressed that the alternative fuels are not sustainable.
Faraklas said that IMO is driven by political ambitions however Greek shipping is thinking out of the box and always find innovative ways to survive.
Mr. Zolotas pointed out that the cost of decarbonization goals will be paid by the final consumer and LNG will prevail as a transitional fuel.
Mr. Dimoulas agreed that the energy efficiency is the greatest tool towards net zero carbon operations.
In the next panel of discussion Charalampos Simantonis - Chairman, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (EENMA) & President, European Shortsea Network pointed out that the European Union has emphasized on railways and ports downgrading short sea shipping, which facilitates 70% of the commercial volume at the European ports.
Stratos Tsalamanios - Seaven Tanker & Dry Management Inc, Vice-President BoD, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (EENMA) agreed that short sea shipping has many challenges to face without any help from the European Union, it is in a transitional stage but due to the uncertainty as shipowners find it difficult to invest without support in the next day of green shipping.
The European Union has unrealistic goals without taking in mind the cost of the energy transition. He thanked the ship's sailors who work in adverse conditions in ports that do not meet safety regulations.
Konstantinos Economou- Secretary General of the Association of Banking & Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping and Head of Shipping Finance, Pancreta – Attica Bank emphasized that Greek banks have long supported Greek shipping by providing almost 60% of the total financing of approximately $34 billion per year.
He admitted that indeed in short sea shipping there is limited financing compared to ocean shipping and this is due to the lack of corporate governance.
Alexandros Lagouros - Maritime Affairs Advisor, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (EENMA) spoke about the decarbonization requirements while Thierry Vaneslander - Professor, University of Antwerp referred to the competitiveness of short sea shipping in relation to other modes of freight transport such as road interconnection.
The Power of Shipping section was coordinated by Dr. Ilias Bissias, University of the Aegean. The participants were the shipowners Symeon Palios - Founder and President of the BoD, Diana Shipping Inc. and Lucien Arkas - Chairman, Arkas Holding.
They spoke about the Greek shipping tradition and in particular about the period of transition from sail to steam. As Symeon Palios mentioned, his ancestor Antonis Palios was the first shipowner to list his shipping company on the Athens Stock Exchange in 1908 and later, together with Leonidas Empirikos founded the Greek Shipowners’ Association.
He referred to the old and new ways of financing and the need to decarbonize shipping. He supported the solution of micro-reactors which is cost effective and completely green.
Lucien Arkas said that his father started as a shipping agent while he decided to buy two container ships that served the trade between Greece and Turkey. Later on, he ordered 16 feeder ships from German shipyards. Today the company handles 1,500,000 teus and has a fleet of 50 ships. The company has also expanded into road transport, owning approximately 500 trucks in order to serve the needs of customers.
Mr. Palios stressed that companies must have a critical mass in order to respond to the demands and crises of the market. They advised young people to be patient and acquire new knowledge.
The University of the Aegean awarded Symeon Palios, Ioannis Xylas, Lucien Arkas and Dr. Chengi Kuo.
Last Round Table: Education and Wellbeing of Seafarers chaired by Capt. Georgios Georgoulis, University of the Aegean and commented by Victoria Athanassopoulou - Ass. Professor, University of the Aegean, Michalis Dimitriadis-Evgenidis - CEO, Aegean Sea Lines & Member of the Board, Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (ΣΕΕΝ), Dimitris Patrikios - Managing Director, V. Ships Greece Ltd., Anna Giatra - General Secretary, WISTA Hellas and Eleni Iakovaki - Ass. Professor, University of the Aegean.
The speakers referred to the shortage of competent seafarers and officers in the merchant marine sector and the necessity for training to be part of the company’s safety culture. It was also mentioned that women are underrepresented in the seafaring profession as account for only 1-2% of the total workforce.
Other issues that were addressed were over regulation burden, distress, abandonment and how technology could improve the crew capabilities and life onboard.
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