“Posidonia,” one of the world’s largest shipping exhibitions, opened in Athens, Greece on Monday where 1,929 companies from 88 countries will exhibit their products and services.
More than 18,000 international visitors are expected to visit “Posidonia” which returns after a four-year hiatus. It will be open to the public at the Athens Metropolitan Expo until June 10th.
In total, 24 National Pavilions from Europe, North America, and Asia have confirmed that they will present their shipping credentials during the exhibition.
A program of 68 conferences and seminars will run alongside the exhibition, through which shipping industry leaders, regulators, and government officials from around the world will provide participants with access to useful information and developments.
This year’s Posidonia exhibition is bigger
“This year’s exhibition is 7 [percent] bigger than the previous one[,] an increase that reflects the dynamism, vigor, and progress of Greek shipping, which invests a lot to upgrade the quality and technology of existing ships,” said Thodoris Vokos, CEO of Exhibitions Posidonia SA, which organizes the event.
He added that the power and investment disposition of the Greek shipowner community, which controls 21 percent of the global displacement (dwt), are the main reasons for the global impact of Posidonia.
Greece remains the largest ship-owning country in the world, with a fleet of 5,514 ships representing 59 percent of the EU-controlled fleet. In 2019, the Greek-owned fleet increased by 7.4 percent and from 2014 by 45.8 percent.
“Posidonia” is the biggest celebration of shipping
The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Giannis Plakiotakis, stated, among other things, that “Posidonia was established as the timeless institution of global promotion of the best example of a creative and productive Greece, our shipping, for more than 50 years.”
“The strengthening of our maritime presence everywhere in the world has a strong positive impact on the overall image of our country,” Plakiotakis added.
Melina Travlos, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, said: “Greek shipping is a leader in strength and will and in the energy transition. We utilize our accumulated know-how and experience. We chart the developments and honor our leading position, of 21 [percent] of the world capacity and 59 [percent] of the European one.
“It is clear that the return of Posidonia, after four years, will offer a dynamic communication platform of the most innovative and technologically advanced operating capabilities of our industry,” Travlos said.
The President of the Hellenic Maritime Chamber, George Pateras, stated that “Posidonia 2022 is a great celebration for the Greek Shipping and for the world Shipping in general.”
“After all these limitations and trials brought about by COVID-19 we are finally free to advance our sector and exchange innovative solutions to many of the problems and challenges we are called upon to face in the future,” Pateras said.
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