Page 60: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2015)

COUNTRY FOCUS: GREECE

Greek Fleet (still) Rules

By Joseph R. Fonseca ince ancient times, maritime Greek traders dominated the grain trade vessels with 291,735,318 deadweight Eleftheros Typos, Greeks remain at the trade has been a backbone of between southeastern Europe and the tonnage (dwt) and 168,922,455 gross top of the pile with regards to tankers

Greece’s economy with ship- West. The emergence of powerful ship- tonnage (gt), leaving Japan second, and (1,217), second in dry bulk cargo ships

Sping playing the dominant role. owning families located on the Aegean China third. Speci? cally, while Greek (1,878) and second in ships transporting

Today, it is the second largest contribu- islands proved an important source of ship owners have fewer ships than either Lique? ed Natural Gas (LNG). Greek tor to the national economy after tour- ? nancial strength for the early Mod- the Chinese or Japanese ship-owners, ships supply 60 percent of China’s raw ism. It is the country’s geography with ern Greek state, which in turn provided the Greek-owned ? eet is the largest in material transport needs. It accounts for a coastline almost that of the U.S. (in- strong support to the shipping industry. the world in gross tonnage. 4.5% of GDP, employing about 160,000 cluding Alaska) in length together with Though Greece is a small nation of 11 Most of the ship owners are well- people (4% of the workforce). Shipping the mountainous nature of the landmass million, it has more than 86 ports that known names in the world of shipping. is said to have brought about $186 bil- with 85% of Greek population living play a major part in helping the trade of Spearheading the list of major ship lion into the Greek economy. The Greek within 30 miles of the sea, that has been the country; 19 of these are considered owners is John Angelicoussis (owner of ? eet ? ies a variety of ? ags, however responsible in creating a strong in? uence busiest maritime ports for passenger Angelicoussis Shipping Group which some Greek shipowners gradually re- on this industry. transport; 21 for cargo traf? c. Even more included Anangel, Maran Tankers, Ma- turned to Greece following the changes

Although the country’s shipping expe- remarkable is that with its small popu- ran Gas, etc., with a total of 114 ves- to the legislative framework governing rienced regression during the late Roman lation it maintains the largest merchant sels aggregating 20,581,974 dwt and their operations and the improvement of period, it grew in prominence during the ? eet of ships in the world, which as of 12,088,789 gt. infrastructure. last few centuries of Ottoman rule, when December 2014 comprised of 4,894 According to ? gures published by Last year, the ruling government intro-

Maran Gas Asclepius, and (inset) John-Angelicoussis, Maran Tankers Management.

60 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MARCH 2015

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