Oil tankers
Many of the 50 ships in the spotlights belong to Greek companies. Around half of the oil tankers nominated on the list are Greek controlled. The most obvious reason for this is that Greece has a long history and tradition in shipping. More than half of the European ships are Greek owned. The Greek share in oil tankers of the existing world fleet is 23%. But for new orders it is 35%!
World fleet
The Greek are also big in other types of vessels. The Greek share in ore and bulk carriers is 24%. In chemical and products tankers they own 18% of the existing world fleet. The Greek share in other type of ships is smaller. In liquid gas ships, containerships, general cargo ships and passenger ships Greek companies own between 6 and 13%. The overall Greek share of ships of the existing fleet is around 18%. For new orders this is 23%.
Greek owned vessels sail under the following flags: Greece (27%), Cyprus (19%), Panama (16%), Malta (18%), Liberia (5%), Bahamas (5%) and other (10%).
Lloyds List
According to Lloyds List (June 2001) the secrets of Greek overall success in shipping is their ability to grow new branches. 'In defiance of modern wisdom that consolidation is the gateway to growth, there are plenty of examples in Greece of maritime families spinning off new companies headed by a son, a brother or a cousin - often enough - all doing well. Prime examples include the two Prokopiou companies, the two branches of the Angelopoulos companies and the gravity-defying case of the three Martinos brothers who currently control about 10 million dwt under the separate fleets of Thenamaris, Eastern Mediterranean and Minerva Marine.'
Asian beaches
Many of the Greek shipping companies on the list of 50 have a record of bringing ships - probably with toxic substances - to Asian beaches. These companies include Athenian Sea Carriers, Colouthros, LMZ transpoil Shipmanagers, Livanos group, Polembros Shipping, Centrofin Management, Tsakos Shipping & Trading and Thenamaris.
Old vessels
Many Greek shipowners will replace their old vessels in the near future. That is a good thing. But it also means that many ships will be scrapped in the near future. Greenpeace urges shipping companies to take full responsibility for their ships. Shipowners must clean and degas their ships before bringing them to the beaches of Asia. Greenpeace also calls upon an active and positive role of Greek authorities in regulating the issue of shipbreaking.
Remarkable ships Pacific Princess ('Love Boat') is on the Greenpeace list. More remarkable ships...
Are you connected to the shipping industry, a shipspotter, a harbourmaster, a crew member or in any other way able to localize the positions of ships? We need your help!
Free electronic newsletter ShipBreakingNews.
If you want to receive regular updates on the Greenpeace shipbreaking campaign, click here!
home
|
about shipbreaking
|
news archive
|
photo & video
|
documents
