In an uncertain geopolitical environment of various conflicts and numerous sanctioned areas the world, is becoming more apparent and essential to guarantee the safety of all seafarers’ lives.
On the occasion of the New Year traditional vasilopita reception, Mr. Haralambos Fafalios President of Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, commented on the latest geopolitical developments and shared his views regarding the green transition of shipping.
He said that: “Geopolitically, with an unpredictable U.S. domestic and foreign policy, it is impossible to guess between tariffs and possible military hotspots how this will affect our industry, whether positively or negatively.
The takeover of Greenland and Taiwan seem to be lurking in the wings. The dissolution of NATO is also a possibility. At this point, global trade flows are relatively similar, and have not really affected individual ship types too drastically.
We still have a vigorous movement of bulk, liquid and unitized cargoes around the world. All sectors are being supplied by a growing number of brand new and ever larger size ships”.
In the last 12 months, the container market has been very positive, the tanker sector has seen some very profitable moments and the gas markets have also recovered significantly.
The RoRo and car carrier sector have been less bullish than a year ago. Finally, the dry bulk sector has seen a slight improvement towards the final months of the year.
There is sufficient optimism to have filled most shipyards capacity beyond 2028 and into 2029. Large numbers of large container ships, tankers, gas carriers and bulk carriers are on order predominantly in China, with the rest being built in South Korea and Japan. In China in particular, new yards such as Hengli are building up huge order books, and in Japan Imabari is further consolidating the Japanese shipbuilding sector.
Of these new ships a certain proportion are being built to be multi-fuel suitable but without knowing if there will be sufficient green fuels available to supply them. Supply of green fuels to shipping will only be available after shore-based demand is satisfied!
Outside of the fossil fuel and biofuel solutions, including LNG and LPG, other fuels, such as ammonia, are not tried and tested or safe for that matter for the entire global fleet.
Shipping needs global solutions and tramp shipping in particular, which encompasses the largest part of the world shipping fleet, cannot rely on haphazard solutions which are not yet there in terms of reliability and more importantly, in terms of safety.
The carbon-free solution is still not around and will not be so for the next 10-20 years and therefore levying more taxes will not encourage a cleaner world. Those who are levying these taxes should be responsible for finding the real solutions.
No member of the environmental lobby has come up with a workable solution for our future fuel needs.
“Greek shipping companies represent the largest individual shipping nation comprising a substantial global trading fleet with the greatest number of low-carbon newbuildings. As a result of this order book, the Greek fleet continues to get younger and to provide ever more versatile solutions to marine transport needs”.
Concluding Mr. Fafalios emphasizes on the role of GSCC and the importance of Hellenic Coast Guard.
The GSCC itself, being based in London since 1935, has played a significant role in being a conduit between the Greek shipping industry and the various UK-based organizations representing our industry.
We also wish to stress the importance of the Hellenic Coast Guard for Greece.
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