«A shock at Shipping translates into global energy shock», stressed the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at the opening of the International Maritime Exhibition «Posidonia 2026» In Metropolitan Expo.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Greek-owned shipping is a national and European capital to be preserved. Especially at a time when it highlights its strategic and geopolitical importance as ever – a power factor associated with the resilience and strategic autonomy of both Greece and Europe, making the country a commercial player with a key role internationally.
Mr Mitsotakis also stressed that «The heart of world shipping beats steadily in Greece. Always loyal to the mission to unite and feed the world, with Greece at its top. This for us is a source of pride and inspiration, that Greeks can star in the seas of the planet».
«As far as European shipping is concerned, nothing can be done for us without us. The Greek fleet is the largest in Europe», stressed.
The Prime Minister also noted that: «the steel bed may travel to the most distant seas, but the soul of shipping remains grounded in this place. The state is next to the shipping whenever necessary. We have done this at national and European level, facing unfinished business from the past and it is this alliance that makes us stronger in our claims».
The situation is more pronounced in the strategic and geopolitical importance of shipping. When closing a single sea road, such as the Straits of Hormuz, is worth launching inflation and leading to real fuel and goods shortages.
«Our country is an important player with a key role internationally, with responsibility, protects the freedom of navigation and the life of sailors» Mr Mitsotakis added. He recalled that the Greek state decided to participate actively in the operation ASPIDS in the Red Sea, so that we could effectively protect the freedom of navigation. «There lies the frigate Fish with the antidrone system KENTAYROS that can intercept attacks» He said. He noted that our country is claiming the return to the previous Strait regime, that there should be no tolls and that the straits should remain a freeway. «Greece will put it back in the Security Council, we have the Presidency again in October».
Mr Mitsotakis stressed that the «green transition is necessary but not at the expense of the competitiveness of shipping».
«I am optimistic that Greeks and Greek women will continue to dominate the oceans for many centuries», noted the Prime Minister, adding that: «We may be in a perfect storm, but the insight, realism and boldness that brought shipping to the top will continue to be the great weapons against the challenges that come. The Greek state will remain an ally and a helper for Greek shipping. Facing shipping as a unique global strategic advantage for our country».
After his speech Mr. Mitsotakis wandered the booths of the exhibition with the president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Mr. Melina Travlou. Among the booths he visited was that of Chinese Cosco, where he was given a gift of a stuffed panda.
For her part, Mrs. Travlou thanked the Prime Minister, who, as she said, effectively recognises the shipping of the Greeks as a national capital both in the economic and humanitarian dimension and also as a global geopolitical advantage of our country.
Melina Trawl: «Protection of shipping is a global responsibility»
A strong message in favour of freedom of navigation, maritime safety and a realistic green transition has sent the Melina Trawl from the step of the Posidonians 2026. The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners stressed that shipping is not just another economic sector, but a key pillar of the world economy and the well-being of the peoples.
«When shipping is blocked, not just a branch is disturbed.· The operation of the world itself is disrupted», stressed features, warning that targeting the industry does not contribute to tackling modern challenges.
Concerning the geopolitical tensions and risks faced by crews, Mrs Travlou pointed out that free navigation is a fundamental condition for stability and international trade. «Marine roads are not just routes, but arteries of the world economy», noted, adding that seamen should never work under conditions that endanger their lives.
At the same time, he described shipping «invisible guarantee power of the well-being of the peoples», arguing that the industry must be at the heart of the political decisions of the states and not only when crises are erupting.
He made particular reference to European policy on the competitiveness of shipping and the major challenge of coalification. As he said, shipping already has the lowest environmental footprint among means of public transport, but it is among the hardest areas in terms of its full coalification.
The president of the Union of Greek Shipowners argued that green transition should be based on technological feasibility, economic sustainability and global coordination. Otherwise, he warned, there is a risk of increasing costs across the supply chain without achieving the intended environmental results.
By closing her speech, Melina Traylou stressed that without freedom of navigation there can be no global prosperity, without safe sea routes there can be no safe trade and without realism there can be no sustainable green transition. «The protection of shipping is not just an operational need for international trade. It's global responsibility, shared responsibility for all of us.»He ended up.
Μιλώντας από το βήμα, ο επίτροπος Βιώσιμων Μεταφορών και Τουρισμού της ΕΕ, Απόστολος Τζιτζικώστας ανέφερε: «Η Ελλάδα και ο Πειραιάς είναι η Σίλικον Βάλεϊ της παγκόσμιας ναυτιλίας αλλά πρέπει να μιλήσουμε και για τις προκλήσεις. Ο πόλεμος εισέρχεται στον τέταρτο μήνα, υπάρχει ένας πραγματικός κίνδυνος να θεωρήσουμε το κλείσιμο των στενών του Ορμούζ νέα κανονικότητα. Αυτό είναι εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνο. Δεκάδες χιλιάδες ναυτικοί παραμένουν εγκλωβισμένοι πηγαίνοντας εκεί να κάνουν τη δουλειά τους. Η ασφάλεια των ναυτικών μας πρέπει να είναι και η απόλυτη προτεραιότητα της ΕΕ. Απαιτείται ακόμα μεγαλύτερη κινητοποίηση και διάλογος με όλα τα εμπλεκόμενα μέρη και ειδικά με το Ιράν. Δεν μπορούμε να αποδεχθούμε περιορισμούς διέλευσης, ντε φάκτο διόδια ή πρακτικές εξαναγκασμού σε διεθνή ύδατα. Αν υποχωρήσουμε σήμερα θα αποδεχθούμε σήμερα ένα πολύ επικίνδυνο προηγούμενο. Χωρίς πλοία, χωρίς λιμάνια δεν υπάρχει ανταγωνιστική Ευρώπη».
Νικόλας Μαρτίνος -Αχιλλέας Κωνσταντακόπουλος: Η ναυτιλία ανάμεσα στην ανθεκτικότητα και τον ανθρώπινο παράγοντα
Νωρίτερα, από το βήμα των Ποσειδωνίων, δύο κορυφαίοι εκπρόσωποι της ελληνικής ναυτιλίας, ο Νικόλας Μαρτίνος της Thenamaris and Achilles Constantakopoulos The ΕΝSOFI, εκπροσωπώντας και την οικογενειακή ναυτιλιακή εταιρεία Costamare κατέθεσαν τις δικές τους οπτικές για το παρόν και το μέλλον του κλάδου.
Ο κ. Μαρτίνος εστίασε στις ισχυρές επιδόσεις των τελευταίων ετών, επισημαίνοντας ωστόσο ότι αυτές διαμορφώνονται μέσα σε ένα σύνθετο και συχνά ασταθές διεθνές περιβάλλον, όπου οι συγκρούσεις, οι ενεργειακές ανακατατάξεις και οι ρυθμιστικές εξελίξεις δημιουργούν νέες προκλήσεις. Από την πλευρά του, ο κ. Κωνσταντακόπουλος ανέδειξε τη σημασία των σχέσεων εμπιστοσύνης και της συνέχειας, υπογραμμίζοντας ότι, παρά την πολυπλοκότητα και το μέγεθος της ναυτιλιακής βιομηχανίας, στο επίκεντρό της παραμένουν οι άνθρωποι και οι δεσμοί που χτίζονται στον χρόνο. Οι παρεμβάσεις τους ανέδειξαν δύο συμπληρωματικές διαστάσεις της σύγχρονης ναυτιλίας: από τη μία την ανάγκη για στρατηγική προσαρμογή σε ένα αβέβαιο διεθνές σκηνικό και από την άλλη τη διατήρηση των αξιών που αποτελούν τη βάση της διαχρονικής επιτυχίας του ελληνικού ναυτιλιακού οικοσυστήματος.
