This year’s Posidonia maritime exhibition will see a 15 percent growth in size, hosting over 1,800 exhibitors from 89 countries and some 20,000 expected visitors, according to the organizers of the event.
“The growth of Posidonia is the result of the resilience of the Greek shipping industry which has managed to cope with the current challenging conditions and maintain its leadership position thanks to its entrepreneurial spirit and by continuously upgrading and reinventing its product, ” said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A ., during a press conference to mark the launch of the 25th edition of Posidonia.
Currently, the average of the Greek-owned fleet is 11.2 years and it comprises 4,585 ships, representing 19.63% of the global fleet in dwt.
“In spite of fierce international competition, Greece’s ocean-going shipping sector maintains the highest ranking in the world and we continue to expand as our current newbuilding order book contains 350 ships under construction,” said George D. Pateras, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
According to Charalambos Fafalios, Chairman of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in London, though many sectors of the shipping industry itself are going through painful adjustments, the positive attitude shown by the shipping industry means that “ it will not only survive but ultimately prosper.”
As a result he called on the government to continue to support the efforts of the maritime industry in every way possible.
Over more than 200 shipyards led by traditional shipbuilding nations, China, Japan and South Korea, will be exhibiting at the event this year, followed by information and communications technology (ICT) firms, ballast water management and propulsion system providers, to service providers from the travel, health, safety and education sectors.
The exhibition will also include 40 confirmed presentations, seminars and workshops delving into the global maritime community’s prime focus, strategic priorities, issues and concerns.
Posidonia 2016 will be held from June 6 – 10 at the Athens Metropolitan Expo. The event is organised under the auspices of the Greek shipping community and the five major associations representing Greek shipping interests: Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Municipality of Piraeus, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Union of Greek Shipowners, Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.