Newsfront Naftiliaki

Newsfront Naftiliaki Newsfront/ Naftiliaki is a publisher, print buyer and media and event consultant based in Athens, Greece. This is the official page of Newsfront / Naftiliaki.

The NEWSFRONT.GR internet information service focuses on the worldwide activities of the GREEK SHIPPING community via daily news stories plus regular S&P and newbuilding reports, coverage of ship finance transactions and legislative, maritime policy and other developments affecting the industry. Plus a running bulletin board (On & Off the Akti Miaouli) on staff appointments, new agency representat

ions and other activities linked to the many companies engaged in servicing the GREEK-OWNED MERCHANT FLEET. The NAFTILIAKI INDEX TO GREEK SHIPPING is a comprehensive directory of the Greek-based shipping-related community, with special attention being paid to Piraeus, the hub of Greek shipping. Divided into seven main sections, the Index covers the whole spectrum of activities associated with one of the world's major contributors to seaborne transportation, from port information to administration contact points, through marine equipment manufacturers and their representatives to shipping offices and their directors, and the hundreds of companies providing the back-up services a shipping community requires. The Naftiliaki Index to Greek Shipping is your key to the Greek shipping marketplace. The LEISURE & PLEASURE GUIDE lists a wide range of recommended restaurants, bar-restaurants and tavernas in Piraeus, downtown Athens and the city's northern and southern suburbs. Most tastes are covered, from traditional Greek to international cuisine via Tex-Mex, BBQ, Chinese, Thai and Japanese menus. All listings regularly vetted for quality of food, service and ambiance. Full addresses, contact numbers and information on when open. MEDIA & EVENT CONSULTANCY: Apart from providing press office and other back-up services to the organisers of the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition, Newsfront/Naftilaki has coordinated on- and off-site receptions, press conferences and media presentations for a number of Posidonia exhibitors.

KIKILIAS BACKS IMO'S ENERGY TRANSITION BUT CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTSShipping and Island Policy minister, Vassilis Kikilias,...
22/09/2025

KIKILIAS BACKS IMO'S ENERGY TRANSITION BUT CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

Shipping and Island Policy minister, Vassilis Kikilias, held a meeting with the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, in London, on September 16.
Participating in the London International Shipping Week, the minister stressed "Greece, the country with the greatest maritime tradition, which is at the same time the leading maritime power in the world, with 20% of the world fleet and the leading member of the IMO Council in terms of votes, supports the need for global measures for the energy transition of shipping, with the aim of ensuring a level playing field."
However, he stressed that in the implementation of the IMO Net-Zero Framework, improvements are required, as the lack of green fuels requires more realistic timetables, fair treatment of transitional fuels – such as LNG – but also smart use of the reward mechanism, in order to support the adaptation of both bulk / tramp shipping and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Kikilias stressed he shares these concerns of the shipping industry and underlined that the IMO and its member-states must focus their efforts on effectively resolving all these issues in the coming months, so the measures expected to be implemented n 2028 are realistic and practically applicable.

(photo; APE-MPE)

US AND GREEK MINISTERS DISCUSS ENERGY, SHIPBUILDING POLICIESThe US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, emphasised th...
15/09/2025

US AND GREEK MINISTERS DISCUSS ENERGY, SHIPBUILDING POLICIES

The US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, emphasised that the vertical energy axis through Greece provides peace and stability for the wider region during meetings with Greek officials September 11.
Burgum highlighted that America's true strength lies not only in its energy superiority but also in what it can achieve through the alliances it builds with its partners.
He also said his meeting with Environment and Energy minister Stavros Papastavrou strengthened cooperation between the two countries and added that through unity, energy can be a force for global stability. Burgum also stated that, through strategic partnerships, "we can reduce our dependence on adversaries, secure supply chains, and ensure a safer and smarter energy future for the world".
Later in the day, the minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, accompanied Burgum during his visit to ONEX Elefsis Shipyards. A working meeting followed between them on the deepening of strategic cooperation between Greece and the US in the shipbuilding industry, security, and investment, as well as the importance of the Elefsis shipyards for the development of the Greek economy.
Kikilias said "I welcomed US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at ONEX Elefsis Shipyards and discussed the important role that Greece can play, through our ocean shipping and shipyards, in cooperation with America, in the common effort to develop the industry and strengthen business and economic relations in this area. Our cooperation will continue and, in the short term, will yield tangible results."

€1BN FOR GREEK PORTS' GREEN AND ENERGY TRANSITIONGreece's deputy minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Stefanos Gkikas...
08/09/2025

€1BN FOR GREEK PORTS' GREEN AND ENERGY TRANSITION

Greece's deputy minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Stefanos Gkikas, spoke from Kyllini about the ports' green transition, the modernisation of coastal shipping through €1bn in investments, and the support of remote ferry routes, during the conference 'Green ports and the future of sustainable shipping'.
Gkikas reiterated that a key strategic priority of the ministry is the upgrade of regional and island ports, which, as he stated, "add value to local communities, boost tourism, and support local economies".
He made special mention of the port of Kyllini, describing it as "one of the most important in the country". He stressed that by 2029, it will have full cold ironing capability, as it is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
The deputy minister also presented a program for the construction of new, environmentally friendly ferries, primarily serving inter-island routes, to be implemented via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with a total cost potentially reaching €1bn.
Regarding subsidised ferry routes, Gkikas noted that state funding has significantly increased, from €90m in 2019 to €167m today, covering 77 routes.
As for the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), Gkikas said that the new equipment procurement program 'AIGIS 2' will significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the force.

(photo; APE-MPE)

GREECE PRIORITIZES COASTAL SHIPPING FLEET FOR RENEWALThe Greek government is preparing a major investment to future-proo...
02/09/2025

GREECE PRIORITIZES COASTAL SHIPPING FLEET FOR RENEWAL

The Greek government is preparing a major investment to future-proof the country's coastal shipping sector, unveiling a €300m initiative to modernize ferry fleets and transition toward a more sustainable, environmentally friendly model.
According to Shipping and Island Policy minister Vassilis Kikilias, the 'green fleet' initiative aims to reduce emissions, lower operational costs, and ultimately bring down the price of ferry tickets for passengers in the coming years. "This initiative will eliminate the need to pay EU pollution charges and, in turn, will allow us to reduce ferry ticket prices in the years ahead," said Kikilias in a radio interview, earlier this month.
The program is expected to be bolstered by additional financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
A full announcement is anticipated this autumn, with the ministry preparing to open a call for
expressions of interest from all segments of the coastal shipping market. These will include open-deck ferries, closed vessels, day cruise boats, conventional passenger ships, and high-speed craft. "It's long overdue, and it is both a government and personal priority to support those working to renew their fleets," Kikilias said, underlining the strategic role maritime transport plays in connecting island communities and supporting tourism year-round.
Renewing the coastal fleet is emerging as a key pillar of Greece's tourism infrastructure strategy, especially during the high summer season and on subsidized routes to remote islands.

01/09/2025

GREEK SHIPOWNERS CONTINUE FLEET CONSOLIDATION

There was a record equaling 78 Greek fleets of over one million dwt, reveals the 38th annual survey by Naftiliaki Greek Shipping Review of Greece's fleets over 1m dwt – the 'Tonne Millionaires'.
Of course, as the years have passed ships have got larger and so have the fleets in the hands of major owners but this year's list, which equals those of 2023 and 2020, underlines the ongoing development of fleets in the Greek cluster as newbuildings are delivered and Greeks remain key players in the s&p ring renewing their fleets.
According to Naftiliaki’s records and information gleaned from the market, at mid-April, the 78 companies from the Greek cluster owning fleets of over 1m dwt were trading a total 3,324 ocean going ships, some 78 ships fewer than last year. The total of just on 355m dwt is 5.528m dwt down on 2024. This year there are four new entries, while four are missing from the 'tonne millionaires' of 2024.
When it comes to sea transportation in most of the trade sectors Greek shipowners are among the leading players, and where they are not, like the container ship sector, they are closing in on those above them as Greek owners adapt to changing demands of the markets.
The larger owners are especially well placed to take advantage of opportunities that may appear on the horizon.
Diversity remains a feature of the list. Nineteen, up one this time round are dedicated fleets – 12 of them, the same as last year, comprise bulk carriers only, six operate tankers only (up one) and one gas carriers, though there is a handful who run energy ships, tankers and gas carriers.
Overall, the 'tonne millionaires' operate 1,452 bulkers, 1,051 tankers, 450 container ships, with 21 companies having container ships in operation. There are 164 LNG carriers and 90 LPG carriers and 27 reefers, 21 of them operated by Laskaridis Shipping.

GREECE RANKS THIRD IN TERMS OF FLEET VALUEThe Greek-owned fleet receives the 'bronze' medal in terms of maritime asset v...
02/07/2025

GREECE RANKS THIRD IN TERMS OF FLEET VALUE

The Greek-owned fleet receives the 'bronze' medal in terms of maritime asset values, with the first two positions taken by the two Asian nations of China and Japan. According to the latest data from VesselsValue, maritime asset values remain high, reflecting the continued strong demand for modern vessels and the ongoing shortage of new shipbuilding orders.
In the ranking of the world's leading maritime nations, China maintains the top position globally, with a fleet valued at $271bn, confirming its growing role in the international trade and shipbuilding industry. Japan comes second, with a fleet valued at $230bn, continuing its long-standing tradition of strong presence in shipping. Greece ranks third, with a fleet worth $183bn, solidifying once again its dominance in deep-sea shipping, particularly in the trump shipping, tankers and bulk carriers sectors.
In fourth place is the United States of America, with a fleet valued at $116.5bn, which is of particular interest due to the diversity of its maritime sectors. According to an analysis by Veson Nautical, the cruise industry is the United States' most valuable segment, valued at $60.1bn with 203 vessels. The world's two largest cruise companies, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, are headquartered in the US, playing a key role in the country's leadership in this sector. The second most valuable sector in the US fleet is the Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs), valued at $12.4bn, and representing the largest portion of the fleet in terms of number of ships (35.5%).

20 MORE TUGS WILL SERVE UPDATED PORT STRATEGYThe Hellenic Shipowners Association of Tugs, Salvage, Anti-pollution and OS...
30/06/2025

20 MORE TUGS WILL SERVE UPDATED PORT STRATEGY

The Hellenic Shipowners Association of Tugs, Salvage, Anti-pollution and OSVS ships signed an MoU, June 23, with the classification society Bureau Veritas and the shipbuilding group Onex for the construction of 20 new tugboats to add to the Greek fleet.
"We are optimistic that by 2026 we will be able to expand the production line to another 20 tugs, highlighting the importance of tugs in the implementation of investment opportunities," the president and CEO of ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group and president of the Association of Hellenic Shipyards, Panos Xenokostas, told the conference.
Xenokostas participated in the opening session of the conference on 'The role of tugboats in today's port challenges' and presented the group's vision and initiatives for the revival of the Greek shipbuilding industry, with the tugboat sector at the forefront.
He underlined that ONEX has strategically invested in the revival of the Syros and Elefsis Shipyards, transforming them from inactive facilities into modern ship repair and shipbuilding centres.
"At ONEX Group, we envision, we plan, we implement. We have proven in practice that we can carry out and implement what we envision and announce – regardless of the adversities. We recently celebrated the repair of the 700th ship in our facilities, today we have reached 720 ships. This is an important milestone which marks not only a numerical goal, but the confirmation that Greece can -once again – play a leading role in ship repair. If we calculate only the ship repair sector of the Group which is approximately €125m for 2024 – 2025, we are talking about an approximately €1bn footprint in the country's GDP, hundreds of jobs saved, and thousands of new ones created," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Shipping ministry, deputy minister Stefanos Gkikas described the day as a historic one for the Greek shipbuilding industry. "Today, we are witnessing the rebirth of the Greek shipbuilding industry. This was an objective established by our Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, from the moment our government was elected in 2019."
He emphasised the dual importance of tugs, saying "These tugboats will serve critical national and international ports, playing a vital role in our country's maritime strategy." In closing, the deputy minister said "It is in our DNA to build ships; we are a country with a long naval tradition. I am very optimistic that, with the regeneration of our shipyards, we will soon see both our warships and those of the Hellenic Coast Guard being built by Greek hands."

(Photo; ONEX)

SEAFARERS' FATIGUE IS ON THE RISEWork-related fatigue among cargo ship crews is growing worse, despite international reg...
10/06/2025

SEAFARERS' FATIGUE IS ON THE RISE

Work-related fatigue among cargo ship crews is growing worse, despite international regulations and onboard monitoring aimed at ensuring sufficient rest for seafarers, according to a new study from Cardiff University's Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC).
The research, which draws on anonymous survey responses and interviews with over 2,400 maritime workers, including 1,240 from the cargo sector and 1,202 from the cruise industry, highlights persistent challenges with crew fatigue, access to medical care, and overall wellbeing at sea.
The report comes days after a container ship, the NCL Salten, built 2002, ran aground near a residential home in Trondheim, Norway. The ship had called at three ports in 24 hours, and the watch officer told authorities he had fallen asleep on the bridge. Investigations are underway to determine if rest hour rules were breached.
The Cardiff study reveals that over a third of seafarers surveyed reported not having had enough sleep in the 48 hours prior to completing the questionnaire. The main causes included long working hours, demanding port duties, irregular shift patterns, vessel movement, and onboard noise, all of which have increased since similar studies were conducted in 2011 and 2016.
Senior officers reported higher levels of work-related anxiety contributing to poor sleep. The study also noted a rise in seafarers citing general anxiety and homesickness as barriers to adequate rest.
"Despite better monitoring of staff work/rest hours, fatigue remains an intractable problem for seafarers," said professor Helen Sampson, director of SIRC. "Evidence shows that even when the Maritime Labour Convention is followed, seafarers may still not be getting the rest they need."
Sampson also pointed to frequent falsification of work/rest hour records in order to conceal overwork, a problem compounded by the precarious employment status of many crew members.
The report also exposes serious gaps in medical support on cargo ships. Nearly 20% of cargo seafarers who had experienced a serious illness or injury at sea reported not receiving timely medical attention. Most vessels lacked a qualified medical professional onboard, with only limited telemedical support available until reaching port.

(photo; APE-MPE)

CRUISE TOURISM ON CORFU IS AIMING TO NEW RECORDSCruise tourism on Corfu reached a new record, as 89,000 passengers were ...
03/06/2025

CRUISE TOURISM ON CORFU IS AIMING TO NEW RECORDS

Cruise tourism on Corfu reached a new record, as 89,000 passengers were welcomed from January to April, an increase of 79% compared to the 49,667 arrivals during the same period in 2024.
Data released by the Corfu Port Authority (CPA), confirmed a dynamic opening to the 2025 cruise season, with significant increases recorded in passenger traffic, cruise ship arrivals, and tourism revenue.
The CPA said 64 cruise ships docked at the port in the first quarter of 2025, up from 36 last year, highlighting Corfu's growing momentum as one of the top cruise destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"The strong start to the 2025 cruise season at the port of Corfu clearly shows that our port continues to earn international trust, while Corfu remains Greece's most important gateway from the west," said CPA's ceo Spiros Zervopoulos.
The year kicked off with strong momentum, with the first cruise ship arriving in Corfu on January 3, an early sign that the tourism season is starting to expand.
Between May and December, Corfu is expected to welcome 406 cruise ships carrying approximately 745,000 passengers. Of these, 111 cruise calls are scheduled between October and December, bringing more than 180,000 visitors to the port.
According to the CPA, these figures underscore the need to step up efforts to lengthen the tourism season.
The benefits of cruise tourism for Corfu were further highlighted in the study "Assessment of the Social and Economic Impacts of the Port of Corfu", recently presented by the CPA.
According to the findings, total contributions from port operations and cruise-related activity reached €193m during the 2023 – 2024 period, supporting 1,750 jobs across the island.
Data also shows that Corfu is emerging as a leading port hub in the Adriatic Sea, generating added value for both the local and national economy.
Zervopoulos said that the CPA is planning infrastructure and service upgrades in anticipation of what is expected to be a record-breaking year, further strengthening the island's standing in the international tourism and maritime network. "Through targeted partnerships, infrastructure upgrades, and a strong focus on the passenger experience, we are reinforcing Corfu's role as a key driver of development and tourism promotion for the wider region, while also boosting the local economy," he concluded.

(photo; APE-MPE)

SHIPPING IS GREEK ECONOMY'S LUCRATIVE OXYGENGreece, a country which accounts for less than 0.3% of global GDP, controls ...
02/06/2025

SHIPPING IS GREEK ECONOMY'S LUCRATIVE OXYGEN

Greece, a country which accounts for less than 0.3% of global GDP, controls approximately 20% of the world's ocean-going shipping, highlighting its dominant role in the international maritime market.
This influence underlines the strategic importance of shipping for Greece, with the sector affecting one in every 15 jobs in Greece's private sector, making shipping a vital pillar of the domestic economy.
The role of Greek shipping in both the global and domestic economy was reiterated by a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, which also highlights that an additional annual impact of $3bn – $4bn could be achieved, primarily through expanding the base of Greek seafarers, developing shipyards and investing in maritime technology.
According to the study presented by McKinsey & Company's equity partner Apostolos Zampelas, at the 9th Shipping Conference organised by newspaper Naftemporiki, May 28, the European Union controls approximately 32% of the world's shipping capacity. Of this capacity, nearly two-thirds is under Greek ownership or control, positioning Greece as a global leader in maritime transportation.
The Greek fleet numbers over 5,000 vessels, making it one of the largest in the world. Over 26% of Europe's seaborne crude oil imports are transported by Greek-owned tankers, which account for around 20% of global tanker capacity. At the same time, 21% of the global capacity of LNG carriers is also Greek-owned, serving a substantial portion of Europe's energy needs. The total value of Greek
shipping assets is estimated between $140bn – $180bn, with annual gross revenues ranging between $40bn – $50bn.
According to the latest official data, Greek-owned vessels account for a significant share of global ton-miles. About 16% of global tanker ton-miles are carried out by Greek-owned vessels, 16% of bulk carrier ton-miles are also covered by Greek shipowners as well as 27% of global LNG ton-miles are handled by Greek-owned vessels.
This presence is crucial for the Greek economy. About 15% of employment linked to shipping comes from non-shipping-related activities, underscoring the wide indirect benefits the sector brings.
Also, 10% of total private sector payroll in Greece is directly or indirectly connected to shipping and 6% of total private sector employment comes from the shipping industry.
Shipping professions offer salaries three times higher than the Greek national average. The average annual salary for onshore shipping positions is around €55,000 and for seafarers it rises approximately at €65,000.
The Greek shipping sector accounts for 20,000 jobs in ship management, 17,000 Greek seafarers working on Greek-owned vessels and 9,000 jobs in the broader maritime sector, such as agencies, legal and technical services and chartering.

(photo; APE-MPE)

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