Tag: Greece

Pirates Claim First Major Success in Months Somali pirates have hijacked the Greek-owned MT Liquid Velvet, finally bringing to an end a dry spell that has stretched back months, maritime sources told Somalia Report.The ship, which has 21 Filipino crew members and an unarmed security expert of unknown nationality, was taken in the Gulf of Aden on Monday in position 1202 North - 04538 East.The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker is owned and managed by Athens-based Elmira Tankers.Source: Neptune Maritime Security

RINA's activities in Greece have been reinforced by the opening of a Piraeus training centre International certification, verification and ship classification company RINA is celebrating its ties with Greece on its 150th anniversary. Formed in Genoa, Italy, in 1861 as a ship classification society, RINA is today a global multidisciplinary and multi-cultural company with growing business in Greece and the surrounding region.Speaking at a reception to mark the event held on board the SS Hellas Liberty in Piraeus, Mr Ugo Salerno, CEO, RINA, said, "We are very happy to be here in Greece today, celebrating both our growing relationships with Greek partners and our 150 years of experience and tradition. We share the goals of our partners here, working to build a sound resilient business, respecting people, community and environment. We provide experience and competence to support industry in improving its operations, and society in improving the quality of life. We are celebrating on board this historic ship, Hellas Liberty, which is also a symbol of Greek shipping history. Nowadays it is important to look back to our roots, to find the inspiration and the enthusiasm for future challenges.""We are active in every area of industry, transportation and environmental protection ...

To stave off an attack on maritime jobs, pay and pensions Seafarers are starting a rolling programme of action in Greek ports to stave off an attack on maritime jobs, pay and pensions.The workers, represented by the ITF-affiliated Pan-Hellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO), have announced that the programme of 48-hour strikes will start on 17 October. The action responds to the Greek government's attack on maritime workers' employment and pensions rights and follows a series of talks with politicians that ended in deadlock.The union is demanding that the government safeguard current and future job opportunities in the industry, retain social benefits, including pensions, and upgrade maritime training and retraining activities. It also wants the ship owners to re-enter national collective bargaining negotiations so that wages can be upgraded.John Halas, general secretary of PNO, said: "Greek seafarers are determined to defend with dynamism their rights from the cruel attack of the Greek government and will not allow the extermination of Greek seafaring, with a thousand years of history and contribution to the nation."Source: ITF

From ERMA FIRST S.A A very successful forum was held Tuesday 27th of September, by the 1st Greek Manufacturer, ERMA FIRST ESK Engineering Solutions S.A., who has designed, certified and manufactured an integrated Ballast Water Management System.More than 250 people, executives from the largest Greek Shipping companies attended the forum thus supporting a major effort made by a Greek company.ERMA FIRST comprised of young scientists, managed to create a high standards Ballast Water Treatment System.During the forum the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the Ballast Water and Sediment Control Convention, 2004 were presented and analyzed while attendants were thoroughly informed about the latest developments in the legislative context, testing and sampling board, issues of great concern for the shipping and managing companies. Participants had the chance to understand the particular features of ERMA FIRST as a distinguished solution on board.Distinguished presenters as Dr. Stephan Gollash, worldwide reputable, academically recognized Marine Biologist, pioneer in the domain of sampling on board and shipboard testing, analyzed the procedure of sampling and the future challenges related to the Regulation Implementation and On-board Surveying/Sampling by Authorities and Coast Guards.And Mr. Frank Fuhr, distinguished Marine Biologist, Senior Researcher of the reputable NIOZ (The ...

To better support the large Greek fleet, Kongsberg Maritime opens new office in the port of Piraeus To better support the large Greek fleet, Kongsberg Maritime now has opened office in the port of Piraeus.With over 4.000 vessels, Greek ship owners control the world's largest merchant fleet, involved internationally in the cargo and passenger trade.There are around 700 shipping companies in the Athens and Piraeus area, so it was important for KONGSBERG to establish presence in Greece to better support its clients.Terje Dyhre (33) is General Manager for the new office. He started at Kongsberg Maritimes office at Bekkajordet in Horten, Norway in 2004 as Field Engineer. He became Operatinal Coordinator for the same department December 2008, and then team leader for section Manager Field Service Customer Support Department.He moved to Greece July this year."I see this as a great challenge, and it is motivating to participate in building the business from scratch", he says.Liquefied natural gasKongsberg Maritime Hellas has 14 staff, and combines customer support and sales from the same location in the port of Piraeus. It will perform service in the local area and in southern Europe. The large Greek ferry fleet sails with a lot of Kongsberg ...

The port authorities of Piraeus and Thessalonica The Greek government has put forward a plan to privatise part of the port authorities of Piraeus and Thessalonica - a move hotly contested by local organised labour unions.At present, the Greek state holds a 74% of the shares in both Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) and Thessalonica Port Authority (OLTH) that are currently quoted on the Athens stock market and 100% of the remaining non-quoted equity. Under the plan, shares would be sold on to a strategic investor.In addition, consolidation of Greek ports is also proposed. Those in the Attica region (Piraeus, Elefsina, Rafina and Lavrio) are to combined under one port administration and the others (Thessalonica, Kavala, Volos, Alexandroupolis, Heraklion, Patrasso, Corfu and Igoumenitsa) another.Source: Port Strategy

The Greek office will be fully operational by November A much anticipated office expected to deepen the Bahamas Maritime Authoritys (BMA) presence in Greece is set to open by November.Chairman of the BMA Ian Fair has confirmed that both the Greece office and a Hong Kong office will be fully operational by the end of the year. Both offices are expected to expand the country's registry by 10 percent, with plans in motion to boost the countrys image in those jurisdictions.We will have the Greece office fully operational by November, he told Guardian Business. We will have more staff than the Hong Kong office. We have not determined exactly how much staff yet, but it will be six people immediately.The move comes as the nations influence spreads in China, with BMA officials invited to speak in Tianjin, China in October, where it will make a technical presentation to the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.Fair asserts marketing is important in the region.Thats a key thing for that region... but more people are aware now that The Bahamas has a presence in East Asia.We have some plans for October to do some more .Fair has said the recent move to Hong Kong was a ...

IT systems are currently experiencing problems On 1 January 2011 it became mandatory to electronically submit Advance Cargo Declarations to relevant customs authorities when entering the area of the EU Customs Union.In the past six months this requirement has caused some headaces to traders, as the individual nationalIT systems that were supposed to be the platform for submissions of cargo declarations were different for each EU member state, and were not always functioning properly.The Greek IT systems are currently experiencing problems when lodging electronic Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) in vast volumes. To mitigate the effects hereof, the European Commission, through the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)has advised thatsome EU Mediterranean Member States (i.e. Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Cyprus, Malta) can temporarily serve for the lodgement of ENS on behalf of Greece.Traders can therefore follow two options:a) Continue to use interfaces and services currently offered by Greek customs;b) Request the Greek customs to be allowed to use a temporary solution whereby all the ENS to be lodged in Greece will be lodged in other EUmember statewhere the trader has an electronic connection to customs. In this case, the trader will declare an alternative location (in a different member state) as Office ...

To protest new austerity measures imposed by the government under pressure Greek dockworkers will join a 24-hour general strike June 15 to protest fresh austerity measures imposed by the Socialist government under pressure from international creditors.The dockers unions are also threatening to step up industrial action through the summer to protest the planned privatization of publicly owned ports as part of a sale of state assets aimed at reducing Greeces $500 billion debt burden.The government plans to sell its 75 percent stakes in the Piraeus and Thessaloniki port authorities by the end of the year. It will also seek buyers for its stakes of between 43 percent and 66 percent in smaller ports in 2012 and 2013.The Union of Port Workers called the privatizations an incomprehensible and criminal political act.The European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, which rescued Greece from bankruptcy last year with a $157 billion loan, are pressing Athens to implement pledged reforms, including privatizations, to secure further funding.Dockers staged several strikes in recent weeks against the privatization program, but the government has shown no sign of backing down.The chairman of Port Piraeus George Anomeritis said privatization is an obsolete business model and ...

Raising the wreck would cost more than 150 million Euro The Greek government on May 24, 2011, said it was not in a position to salvage the wreck of the "Sea Diamond" which sank of the coast of Santorini after it hit a rocky outcrop close to the islands shore in April 2007.The wreckage of the ship has remained on the sea bed ever since, much to the annoyance of the islands residents. Responding to a question in Parliament, Marine Affairs Minister Yiannis Diamantidis said that the government could not afford to remove the ships hulk.Raising the wreck would cost more than 150 million Euro, this being an issue that the shipowner and insurance company have to deal with. Louis Cruise Lines, which owned the ship, has firmly rejected any responsibility for the sinking.Source: Vesseltracker